In my lifetime there have been several noteworthy epidemics, but two stand out for their political nature. The Commie Cough, of course, has been wreaking havoc for a few years now, and opening the door for totalitarianism and mass Karening the whole time. But a generation earlier, another epidemic gained vast political clout and resulted in almost the exact opposite response. Where COVID has led to lockdowns of entire populations, mass testing and legal repercussions for not just ill-behaved people with the disease but well intentioned people without it… AIDS resulted in the opposite. AIDS is a disease that is 100% fatal barring the use of complex and expensive drugs that do not cure the disease but merely hold it in check; stop the drugs and not only do you probably die, you return to being a carrier. The entire planet was shut down to ostensibly deal with a disease that well over 90% of those who get it will survive. But AIDS? Go ahead and do what you like, because reasons.
Had the same policies now in place for the Pinko Pox been in place for AIDS thirty years ago – in particular, mass testing and quarantining of the infected – the disease would be a historical footnote, popping up about as often as Ebola. But no, any suggestion for doing such a thing is seen as homophobic, despite the fact that the bulk of the lives spared would have been that very demographic.
But behold, joyous news:
By allowing the HIV to persist, rather than wiping it out decades ago, it had the opportunity to mutate into an exciting strain that not only transforms the infection into full AIDS faster, it also results in a higher viral load and is much more transmissible. This strain has been around for a while but is seemingly becoming much more prevalent. Coming soon: an airborne strain as transmissible as COVID.
Some will argue against the need for testing and quarantining because AIDS “cocktails” have been around for a couple decades now that allow people with the virus to live seemingly healthy lives, apparently for a normal lifespan. And for those that have the virus, this doubtless is a good thing. But this is only a good thing for as long as the drugs last. A global war? A major economic meltdown? A Carrington Event? Complex, expensive drugs could easily become quite rare. How long does someone need to be off their antiretroviral meds before the HIV decides to become resistant to the meds?
