Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: Notesfiles $Revision: 1.6.2.17 $; site waltz.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcs!waltz!meyer From: meyer@waltz.UUCP Newsgroups: net.singles Subject: Re: Herpes Mania Message-ID: <37100001@waltz.UUCP> Date: Tue, 15-Jan-85 11:19:00 EST Article-I.D.: waltz.37100001 Posted: Tue Jan 15 11:19:00 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 18-Jan-85 02:33:31 EST Lines: 37 Nf-ID: #N:waltz:37100001:000:1892 Nf-From: waltz!meyer Jan 15 10:19:00 1985 I have to say that this whole hype on "HERPES 1" is sadly out of hand. If you saw Night Line last night (Monday 1/14) where they talked about this very issue, Dr. Tim Johnson indicated that HERPES 1 is nothing more than what we all know as the virus that causes "cold sores". The more important point is that 60% to 80% of the entire population carries this virus in their saliva, and only a very few of these people will react on occation with the unsightly cold sore on their lips. Thus, it is more likely that an individual will catch the "dreaded" disease from someone other than a person that happens to break out occationally with the sore. Another point was that this virus doesn't float around in the air -- you can't get it by just being in the room. As to the idea of putting this kiddo through all these precausions is absolutely crazy! Since most of the other kids have the same virus already anyway (from other sources -- maybe even mom and dad!), they also should be placed under the same testing and take similar precausions if they carry the virus. Not quite so nice, huh. Now, I agree that common sense should prevail. If the kiddo (who does have an extreme case) has blisters all over his hands, he should stay home to get that cleared up. I don't think that I would want anybody with any type of infection to smear it all over me. But on the other hand, there is no reason to flip out either. To put this kiddo through the ringer as an outcast is a tragedy and I hope that the information provide by Night Line has put the minds of most people to rest about the issue. I guess I should be thwarted from society too -- I occational break out in a cold sore about once a year. Not fun, but I hate getting a cold worse. Dane Meyer USENET ==> {convex!smu, ut-sally, texsun, rice} !waltz!meyer ARPA ==> Meyer%waltz%TI-CSL@CSNet-Relay CSNet ==> Meyer@TI-CSL