Avian Flu, Other Viruses Linked to Increased CO2 in Atmosphere?

This may be very important, as CO2 is an acid gas and viruses prefer more acid conditions. This has been confirmed recently about the Foot and Mouth Virus, is well documented for the Influenza Virus, and may well also apply to the AIDS, EBOLA and SARS Viruses. This form of "life" passes through many "generations" in a short time scale, and is therefore much more likely to "mutate" under the stimulus of more "benign" (acid) conditions than Mankind, or any other air breathing species, with much longer "breeding cycles".

Increasing CO2 in the atmosphere might cause changes in breathing rates [it is used in resuscitation apparatus as a breathing stimulant], and blood stream pH by lowering this, making it "more acid". The latter would in theory encourage viral activity, especially in warmer conditions. However, as far as can be determined, the foregoing was not a subject at the 1998 International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases at Atlanta, USA. HIV and Climate Change were subjects for discussion. A number of individuals and organisations listed in the programme and abstracts would be worth consulting.

And concern have been expressed at the Exeter UK conference recently on the increased acidification of the Oceans, with harmful effects to Marine Life. If this is real, then all other systems in contact with the atmosphere are being "acidified", including all Viruses which prefer more acid conditions to flourish.

It is suggested therefore that the biological plague of Mankind has both a physical and a physiological problem with rising CO2 levels. Given that Nature made mammalian life possible by using leguminous life to reduce the CO2 content of the atmosphere, followed by "burying" it. The reverse could now be starting with that "locked up" Carbon being released by the life form its reduction made possible, following an old saying that plagues contain the seeds of their own destruction.