We have heard a lot about mutated viruses and whether they are more contagious or more deadly than the original Covid-19 virus from Wuhan. Covid-19 has been multiplying countless times around the world. Capitalism has been unable to control the pandemic and the resultant infinite viral replications that are occurring are resulting in more dangerous mutants. As CHALLENGE has pointed out (See Page 8, February 3, 2021), the chaotic nature of capitalism in crisis combined with massive inequality has resulted in the uncontrolled spread of the virus in most countries.
What is a mutated virus?
Genetic information is stored in two types of molecules, Deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA which is a double-stranded nucleic acid, and Ribonucleic acid or RNA which is a single-stranded nucleic acid. Frederick Engels wrote in the Dialectics Of Nature, “Life is the mode of existence of protein bodies….” The DNA molecule consists of two strands that wind around each other like a twisted ladder. The DNA and RNA molecules contain the codes for the proteins that are the building blocks of all life.
Viruses have none of the metabolic machinery needed to produce the proteins needed to replicate. Covid-19 is a virus that contains RNA. It is an RNA virus. Covid-19 only reproduces when it is in a cell that is capable of allowing the viral RNA to take over the cell’s metabolic machinery and produce the proteins needed to replicate. Sometimes, when the RNA is being replicated, an inexact replica is made and the resultant viral particle does not survive. Most of the time replicating errors or mutations are harmful to the virus. Rarely the mutation results in a viral particle that is more efficient at traveling from one person to another or at penetrating a cell or causing more severe disease or resistance to a vaccine.
Healthcare for profit limits the fight against Covid-19
It is more likely that these mutations will be identified if the viruses being isolated from people have their RNA sequenced. In the U.S. this has been done for about 0.3 percent of viral isolates (Forbes, 1/8). In other countries, the viral sequencing has been more thorough, but not nearly enough to keep up with the rate of mutations. A big factor limiting sequencing is that capitalism struggles to organize science or health care if it isn’t highly profitable. The lack of coordination and organization has characterized the global response of capitalism to the pandemic in general and sequencing in particular.
Describing the sequencing problems in the state, California Public Radio said “The lab network remains fragmented, and there isn’t substantial collaboration facilitated by the state, …[for example] the state’s new diagnostic laboratory in Valencia is not equipped for genomic sequencing, [and] has limited ability to send samples to outside labs for this work” (capradio.org 2/1).
As the virus has mutated, capitalist chaos limiting sequencing around the globe is becoming a factor, along with things like racist dilapidated health care systems and massive inequality, that has allowed the virus to continue to spread.
Our class, the working class, has suffered horribly because of the callous disregard of the capitalist rulers. Only when the working class seizes power will we be able to create a society where our health is the primary concern of the healthcare system. Capitalism will not put the health of the working class above their profits. It must be smashed.