Blog

What Really Causes Influenza? Part 1

Written by Daniel Roytas (MHSc Human Nutrition), BHSc (Naturopathy), Dip. RM

In part 1 of this blog, an overview of some of the most important experiments conducted to try and prove that influenza was caused by a contagious virus were discussed in detail. Despite the most desperate attempts by scientists and doctors to make healthy people sick, every single attempt failed. Part 2 of this blog post aims to answer two questions. Firstly, what is the original proof showing that a virus causes influenza? Secondly, if not a virus, then what other plausible explanations are there?

It’s important to note that whilst a number of potential alternative causes of influenza will be discussed in this blog, these are only hypotheses and not claims.

The Discovery of Influenza

How did we get to the point where we “believe” that a virus causes influenza (or any infectious disease for matter)? An assumption was made, that a sick person was able to...

 Episode 39: Mike Donio - Scientist Questions The Science

Mike Donio holds a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with a Minor in Chemistry from the University of Massachusetts and a master’s degree in Biotechnology with a concentration in Biotechnology Enterprise from Johns Hopkins.  He is an accomplished scientist with 20 years of experience, including 15 years in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry.  This experience spans the spectrum of drug discovery ranging from target identification through pre-clinical and IND-enabling studies.  His first job as a scientist was in the lab of a top infectious disease doctor doing HIV research.  Following that, he went into the pharma industry working several years at Schering-Plough which was subsequently acquired by Merck.  Next, he decided to mix things up and worked for a few years at Eurofins, a Contract Research Organization.  Finally, he spent the last 6 years at a...