TheExplainer of the Week: Kizzmekia Corbett Ph.D

Dr. Corbett on 'Our Job' during a viral pandemic.

During a tour de force presentation this past week, Dr. Corbett the research lead for the Coronavirus Vaccines and Immunopathogenesis team at the NIH, described how scary it is that a novel, pathogenic virus was mutating in humans. She noted that this is not unusual, in fact, it is to be expected, because "that is what viruses do, it is their job".

She then went on to describe what our response should be:

"It's our job to not give them our bodies as hosts

so that they can do so"

Clear. Simple. Science.

When you're infected with COVID-19, whether you are symptomatic, sick, or feel fine, the virus is using your body as a host, like a body snatcher would, and in the process it is reproducing and possibly mutating into a more dangerous form that you can pass on to others. This makes getting to herd immunity through infection a race against mutation.

What can you do to help prevent this?

Do everything you can to avoid becoming a body snatched host,

get vaccinated, mask-up and social distance.