Anthrax vs Covid. Infectious Agents and Virulence Prediction

The persistence of infectious agents in the environment is a critical factor influencing their virulence. Infections like anthrax, which forms spores, can survive for extended periods, making them more dangerous since they do not need to prioritize the health of the infected host. In contrast, agents that do not last long in the environment, like the common cold, tend to cause less harm to their hosts to ensure transmission. COVID-19, with a lifespan slightly longer than the average flu virus in the environment, is suggested to evolve from a highly virulent disease to one resembling the seasonal flu or even less virulent over time, reflecting a broader trend of infectious agents adapting their virulence based on environmental persistence.