ELi5: why can’t we completely get rid of viruses from the body? Ie: HIV, HEV, etc

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I understand that viruses can be suppressed by the immune system – but it seems most tend to continue living in our bodies and we only get “sick” from them when our immune systems are weakened.

Why can’t we create a cure that eradicates the virus from the body? Not talking about retroantivirals.

In: Biology

8 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

A virus is a relatively small, almost inert chemical, that can hide inside a human cell making it virtually invisible. To eliminate it, you have to find it, which is normally only possible when it is active. You could of course kill all the cells in the body where it could be hiding, but that would mean killing the body.

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