• Question: Is it possible to completely cure colds and other common ailments?

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      Asked by Dr Sibley to John, Laura, Luke, Rob, Ruth on 15 Jun 2016.
      • Photo: John Fossey

        John Fossey answered on 15 Jun 2016:

        Yes – but the problem is these diseases are in a perpetual battle with our immune systems and the pharmaceuticals we can make.

      • Photo: Robert Williams

        Robert Williams answered on 15 Jun 2016:

        Colds are caused by a virus.
        To cure a cold you have to get an immunity from the virus.
        But the cold virus is able to change so the body has to keep up which is why it is important to catch a cold each year so that your bodies defences can adapt.

      • Photo: Laura Finney

        Laura Finney answered on 15 Jun 2016:

        The problem is that cold and flu changes over time, so what may cure you this year, may not work next year once it has changed. This is why flu jabs are given to people once a year instead of once a lifetime.

      • Photo: Luke Williams

        Luke Williams answered on 16 Jun 2016:

        The cold viruses are particularly persistent little things. I believe they are some of the most rapidly evolving things that exist.

        As others have said, its like playing whack a mole, with ridiculously large numbers. I don’t know what number of combinations the cold virus can come up with, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was billions or some truly insane number.

        So in short, yes, can cure some versions of the common cold, but it would never really be worth our time. It would just keep on evolving.

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