Moosh:] writes

I didn't realise they were significantly different. Thanks. How do you
explain the marked increase in autoimmune diseases lately?
As well as food allergies and asthma like allergies?

That was explained (although more info is required for proof) by the un-
naturally hygienic living conditions of the first world (and a lesser
extent the second).

Modern hygiene clears up viri as much as bacteria.

Yes, but given little to do the viral one dominates.

I wonder why.

probably because the systems evolved in a situation where bacteria
dominate.

Probably in nature bacteria are a more common threat than viruses.

It probably depends a lot on the environment/lifestyle.

I'm not sure 'lifestyle' is appropriate a word for neanderthals.

Certainly in evolutionary terms it's very very recent that man lived in
large (say 2000+) closely packed groups with good communication between
groups. I would thus imagine that new viral attacks were very rare (and
probably pretty devastating). Typically the local endemic viruses would
have all been encountered in childhood. Bacterial challenge, though,
would continue throughout life.

Intriguingly, this also posits a mechanism for the use of antibiotics in
young farm animals (babies in effect) attacked by a serious virus. It is
usual for them to recover from the virus, only to succumb to a bacterial
disease (often scours). The switching over to viral attack, leaves their
immature immune system open to attack by bacteria. This is so common as
to be expected.

So what was the antibiotic given for?

Indeed. Prophylactically.

Not a good practice routinely, I would have thought.

Indeed.

But at least one
with relevant sensitivities would be better, if the bacterial
infection is routinely expected.

This is typically the case in young animals with clinical viral disease.

--
Oz
This post is worth absolutely nothing and is probably fallacious.
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