5 ms·

I am surprised to see this data, because my impression was that you essentially had to be a physically and mentally flawless human being to go into space.

rjurney 8y ago
They don't mention simplex B, which makes me wonder if it cancels you out.
icedchai 8y ago
Over 60% of humanity has HSV-1 [1], aka "cold sores" virus. When people "get tested", they generally don't even check for it unless you request it, because it would create unjustified concern. [1] See https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/28-10-2015-globally-an-estimated-two-thirds-of-the-population-under-50-are-infected-with-herpes-simplex-virus-type-1 https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/28-10-2015-globally-an-...
- burfog 8y ago
  So almost 40% of humanity does not have HSV-1. Astronaut selection is already severe. You don't get selected if you have tuberculosis, diabetes, amputations, or deafness. Once selected, you won't go on the launch if you are sick with the flu. It doesn't seem like HSV-1 needs to be a problem in space. Simply add that to the gigantic list of conditions that prevent space travel. I highly doubt that HSV-1 is anywhere near 60% in the pool of astronaut candidates. Disease presence is correlated: if you have one, you probably have another. Since lots of other diseases would already be disqualifying, adding HSV-1 to the checklist won't strike off very many potential astronauts.
  - icedchai 8y ago
    Okay, so otherwise qualified and highly skilled people should not be allowed into space due to a potentially minor skin condition. Makes sense. What if they break out with severe acne on the way to the launch pad?
    - burfog 8y ago
      How severe? If the acne is really severe, yes indeed they don't go to space. Space travel is like that. At something like $20,000,000 per person, going to a difficult work environment, being picky is important.
  - user5994461 8y ago
    40% of humanity is under 20 years old. They will get it by the time they grow up to be an astronaut.
  - benj111 8y ago
    "amputations" Leg amputations sound to me like they could be a potential advantage in space. Is it a circulation thing, or swimming out of a flooding capsule thing?
  - nostrademons 8y ago
    It's related to age, as you would expect from any contagious virus that's ubiquitous in the environment and doesn't go away. 0.01% of newborns have HSV-1 [1]; 90% of 50-year-olds have it [2]. The 40% of humanity without HSV-1 are largely under 30. Your typical astronaut is much more likely to be towards the 40-50 year old end of the scale. [1] https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/pediatrics/infections-in-neonates/neonatal-herpes-simplex-virus-hsv-infection https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/pediatrics/infecti... [2] https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/adult/infectious_diseases/Oral_Herpes_22,OralHerpes https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/adu...
    - Eleopteryx 8y ago
      It says "90 percent of adults have been exposed to the virus by age 50", but I didn't think that exposure necessarily meant infection.
  - Symmetry 8y ago
    The estimates I've seen were more 1/3 to 1/2 of people being infected but it is very common because most people engage in unprotected kissing with a number of partners. I have, in fact, never heard of anyone using a barrier while kissing so I don't think you can expect that someone with HSV-1 to also have other diseases.
    - tropo 8y ago
      My sex ed class taught me to use a dental dam for protection while kissing. I guess some people got abstinence-only classes, but most of us were taught how to stay safe. I've also known multiple people in the USA who actually succeeded with abstinence. They did not kiss or spend time alone with the opposite sex until their wedding day. IMHO the abstinence looks easier, but the use of protection is being taught.
      - alboy 8y ago
        Sounds like one of those "the cure is worse than the disease" situations.
        tzakrajs 8y ago
        Almost like they wanted the next most useless thing to abstinence, complicated process.
  - SketchySeaBeast 8y ago
    > I highly doubt that HSV-1 is anywhere near 60% in the pool of astronaut candidates. Disease presence is correlated: if you have one, you probably have another. Since lots of other diseases would already be disqualifying, adding HSV-1 to the checklist won't strike off very many potential astronauts. Dude, I've had cold sores since I was a child. There's no relationship between HSV-1 and other diseases.
    - serf 8y ago
      >Dude, I've had cold sores since I was a child. There's no relationship between HSV-1 and other diseases. Repeated (chronic) bacterial or viral wounding doesn't result in increased cancer risks? I find that hard to believe.
      - ekianjo 8y ago
        so are you saying that you have data to show correlation between HSV 1 and other diseases? Please share.
        morothy 8y ago
        Herpes and Alzheimer's https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/07/herpes-viruses-alzheimers/564887/?single_page=true https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/07/herpes-v... more on HN: https://hn.algolia.com/?query=herpes%20alzheimer&sort=byPopularity&prefix&page=0&dateRange=all&type=story https://hn.algolia.com/?query=herpes%20alzheimer&sort=byPopu...
        SketchySeaBeast 8y ago
        HHV–6 is pointed out as causing the same issue - according to wikipedia HHV-6B is in pretty much every person.
      - SketchySeaBeast 8y ago
        >I highly doubt that HSV-1 is anywhere near 60% in the pool of astronaut candidates. Disease presence is correlated: if you have one, you probably have another. Since lots of other diseases would already be disqualifying, adding HSV-1 to the checklist won't strike off very many potential astronauts. I took exception to the claim that having cold sores meant you were otherwise "diseased". Can it have long term effects? Yes, but I don't believe an increased long term cancer risk means you're not able to become an astronaut.
- NikkiA 8y ago
  Don't forget that the Herpes family also includes Herpes/Varicella Zoster, aka Chickenpox; and it also can be awakened by stress.

rjurney 8y ago

They don't mention simplex B, which makes me wonder if it cancels you out.

icedchai 8y ago

Over 60% of humanity has HSV-1 [1], aka "cold sores" virus. When people "get tested", they generally don't even check for it unless you request it, because it would create unjustified concern. [1] See https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/28-10-2015-globally-an-estimated-two-thirds-of-the-population-under-50-are-infected-with-herpes-simplex-virus-type-1 https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/28-10-2015-globally-an-...

burfog 8y ago
So almost 40% of humanity does not have HSV-1. Astronaut selection is already severe. You don't get selected if you have tuberculosis, diabetes, amputations, or deafness. Once selected, you won't go on the launch if you are sick with the flu. It doesn't seem like HSV-1 needs to be a problem in space. Simply add that to the gigantic list of conditions that prevent space travel. I highly doubt that HSV-1 is anywhere near 60% in the pool of astronaut candidates. Disease presence is correlated: if you have one, you probably have another. Since lots of other diseases would already be disqualifying, adding HSV-1 to the checklist won't strike off very many potential astronauts.
- icedchai 8y ago
  Okay, so otherwise qualified and highly skilled people should not be allowed into space due to a potentially minor skin condition. Makes sense. What if they break out with severe acne on the way to the launch pad?
  - burfog 8y ago
    How severe? If the acne is really severe, yes indeed they don't go to space. Space travel is like that. At something like $20,000,000 per person, going to a difficult work environment, being picky is important.
- user5994461 8y ago
  40% of humanity is under 20 years old. They will get it by the time they grow up to be an astronaut.
- benj111 8y ago
  "amputations" Leg amputations sound to me like they could be a potential advantage in space. Is it a circulation thing, or swimming out of a flooding capsule thing?
- nostrademons 8y ago
  It's related to age, as you would expect from any contagious virus that's ubiquitous in the environment and doesn't go away. 0.01% of newborns have HSV-1 [1]; 90% of 50-year-olds have it [2]. The 40% of humanity without HSV-1 are largely under 30. Your typical astronaut is much more likely to be towards the 40-50 year old end of the scale. [1] https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/pediatrics/infections-in-neonates/neonatal-herpes-simplex-virus-hsv-infection https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/pediatrics/infecti... [2] https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/adult/infectious_diseases/Oral_Herpes_22,OralHerpes https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/adu...
  - Eleopteryx 8y ago
    It says "90 percent of adults have been exposed to the virus by age 50", but I didn't think that exposure necessarily meant infection.
- Symmetry 8y ago
  The estimates I've seen were more 1/3 to 1/2 of people being infected but it is very common because most people engage in unprotected kissing with a number of partners. I have, in fact, never heard of anyone using a barrier while kissing so I don't think you can expect that someone with HSV-1 to also have other diseases.
  - tropo 8y ago
    My sex ed class taught me to use a dental dam for protection while kissing. I guess some people got abstinence-only classes, but most of us were taught how to stay safe. I've also known multiple people in the USA who actually succeeded with abstinence. They did not kiss or spend time alone with the opposite sex until their wedding day. IMHO the abstinence looks easier, but the use of protection is being taught.
    - alboy 8y ago
      Sounds like one of those "the cure is worse than the disease" situations.
      - tzakrajs 8y ago
        Almost like they wanted the next most useless thing to abstinence, complicated process.
- SketchySeaBeast 8y ago
  > I highly doubt that HSV-1 is anywhere near 60% in the pool of astronaut candidates. Disease presence is correlated: if you have one, you probably have another. Since lots of other diseases would already be disqualifying, adding HSV-1 to the checklist won't strike off very many potential astronauts. Dude, I've had cold sores since I was a child. There's no relationship between HSV-1 and other diseases.
  - serf 8y ago
    >Dude, I've had cold sores since I was a child. There's no relationship between HSV-1 and other diseases. Repeated (chronic) bacterial or viral wounding doesn't result in increased cancer risks? I find that hard to believe.
    - ekianjo 8y ago
      so are you saying that you have data to show correlation between HSV 1 and other diseases? Please share.
      - morothy 8y ago
        Herpes and Alzheimer's https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/07/herpes-viruses-alzheimers/564887/?single_page=true https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/07/herpes-v... more on HN: https://hn.algolia.com/?query=herpes%20alzheimer&sort=byPopularity&prefix&page=0&dateRange=all&type=story https://hn.algolia.com/?query=herpes%20alzheimer&sort=byPopu...
        SketchySeaBeast 8y ago
        HHV–6 is pointed out as causing the same issue - according to wikipedia HHV-6B is in pretty much every person.
    - SketchySeaBeast 8y ago
      >I highly doubt that HSV-1 is anywhere near 60% in the pool of astronaut candidates. Disease presence is correlated: if you have one, you probably have another. Since lots of other diseases would already be disqualifying, adding HSV-1 to the checklist won't strike off very many potential astronauts. I took exception to the claim that having cold sores meant you were otherwise "diseased". Can it have long term effects? Yes, but I don't believe an increased long term cancer risk means you're not able to become an astronaut.
NikkiA 8y ago
Don't forget that the Herpes family also includes Herpes/Varicella Zoster, aka Chickenpox; and it also can be awakened by stress.