Chandra Wickramasinghe from Cardiff University, UK, and colleagues describe how around a tonne of bacteria is deposited on the earth every day, and propose that pathogenic bacteria and viruses could have origins in outer space. They comment on the unusual nature of major epidemics such as the plague of Athens and the 'flu epidemic of 1917-19 where infection rates and deaths are not easily explained by epidemiological modelling.
He comments: "With respect to the SARS outbreak, a prima facie case for a possible space incidence can already be made. First, the virus is unexpectedly novel, and appeared without warning in mainland China. A small amount of the culprit virus introduced into the stratosphere could make a first tentative fall out east of the great mountain range of the Himalayas, where the stratosphere is thinnest, followed by sporadic deposits in neighbouring areas. If the virus is only minimally infective, as it seems to be, the subsequent course of its global progress will depend on stratospheric transport and mixing, leading to a fall out continuing seasonally over a few years. Although all reasonable attempts to contain the infective spread of SARS should be continued, we should remain vigilant for the appearance of new foci (unconnected with infective contacts or with China) almost anywhere on the planet. New cases might continue to appear until the stratospheric supply of the causative agent becomes exhausted."
Contact: Professor Chandra Wickramasinghe, Director of the Cardiff Centre for Astrobiology, Cardiff University, UK; T) +44 (0)2920 752146; M) (mobile/cell) +44 (0)777 389243; F) +44 (0)2920 753173; E) xdw20@dial.pipex.com
Journal
The Lancet