Understanding coronavirus and how germs spread (2)
Both: Going Viral with Kara and Gilly!
Gilly: ‘Sup Kara, how's things?
Kara: Good - yeah. I've been infecting a new friend. It's going well but I hope they don't get sick of me.
Gilly: Uh, Kara are you trying out your stand up material on me again?
Kara: Yeah! I'm performing tomorrow night at the Snot Factory!
Gilly: Well, that joke was a little on the nose.
Kara: I'd rather be IN the nose. Eh? !
Gilly: You're a dork but I love you.
Kara: Aw.
Gilly: So - we got some fan mail.
Kara: FAN MAIL! Ohh yeah!
Gilly: Let's see - whoa. OK.
Kara: Is it -- what is it?
Gilly: It's like a bunch of questions. Here - let me play them.
Asher: Hi, my name's Asher from Los Angeles, California. How do viruses move from one person to another?
Finn and Ellis: Hi, this is Finn and Ellis and we want to know how are viruses formed?
Anna and Charlie: This is Anna and Charlie and our questions are what are viruses, how do they make people sick and are they alive?
Amelia and Isaac: Hi my name's Amelia. And I'm Isaac. How does your body react to a virus and why?
Kara: Cute. Love it.
Gilly: Yeah. Super cute. OK -- so, here's the QnD --
Kara: -- Quick and Dirty --
Gilly: -- On us viruses. We're ultra-tiny, microscopic bits of genetic material. Are we living? Are we dead?
Kara: Meh - it's not really clear.
Gilly: Kinda depends on your definition of living.
Kara: So true. What is clear though, is we need to invade a living cell to make more of ourselves.
Gilly: Exactly. And that's where you come in, Viralinos -- our wonderful, dedicated friends of the pod.
For us to spread - we need to travel from one infected person to another. And in humans, we like to do that in viral droplets!
Kara: Viral droplets are like carpools for viruses -- but instead of SUVs and minivans -- it's spit and boogers.
Gilly: The only way to travel.
Kara: When someone sneezes or coughs - they shoot out these little droplets of saliva or mucus full of viruses.
Gilly: Sometimes we land straight in a mouth!
Kara: GOAL!
Gilly: Or up a nose or in an eye. Your average cold or flu virus can only infect you if it gets in one of those places.
Kara: It's mouth, nose or eye -- or kiss your infecting days goodbye!
Gilly: Right -- but after a cough most of the time we land on the floor.
Kara: Womp womp.
Gilly: Or a wall. Or a table. Whatever.
Kara: Viral droplets don't have GPS - so it's literally a toss-up.
Gilly: BUT - some viruses can survive several hours or even days outside a body. So say you pick up something from the floor. Or touch that table.
Kara: Ohhh. I like where this is going.
Gilly: Then we get on your hand…
Kara: Uh-huh...
Gilly: And then you take your hand…
Kara: Oh I love this part!
Gilly: AND PUT IT IN YOUR MOUTH!! !
Kara: YUSS! We're in!
Gilly: And you thought you were just biting your nails or picking your nose.
Kara: Or stroking your teeth for good luck.
Gilly: Kara - humans don't do that.
Kara: I have no idea what they do, they're so weird.
Gilly: Truth! Well, once we're in that's when we shine!
Kara: And by shine, she totally means we try to sneak inside one of your cells and turn it into a virus factory.
Gilly: Sometimes your body's immune system stops us before we really spread.
Kara: Boo!
Gilly: But other times -- we make it to a cell. You have so many - it's no biggie. We just hack it so it makes viruses.
Kara: And when that viral cell factory is totally full of new viruses - it explodes! But you know, in a fun way.
Gilly: Well, the cell dies.
Kara: Fun for us I mean.
Gilly: Right right right. It is fun! Viruses shoot out everywhere! We infect new cells and that's how you get sick!
Kara: Yep. Then - it's your turn to give us a ride on a viral droplet to our next destination.
Gilly: Road trip!
Kara: Hey Gilly - you know what a virus's favorite road movie is?
Gilly: What?
Kara: Sneezy Rider!
Gilly: Please don't put that in your stand up set. Anyway, after the break -- when bodies fight back!
Kara: Keep listening!
Kara: We wanna give a special shout out to today's sponsors:
Both: People who don't cover their mouths!
Gilly: They have been with us since the very first episode and, I mean this, we wouldn't be here without them.
Kara: Whether you're a virus planning a trip by sneeze, cough, spittle or explosive burp -- People Who Don't Cover Their Mouths is your best bet for getting to your destination.
Gilly: They've got sick people around the globe who just don't cover their face holes. So no matter where you're headed, there's probably a person not covering their mouth to help you get there.
Kara: Get a 10 percent discount on your next trip by entering the code GOING VIRAL.
Both: Bon voyage!
Gilly: And we're back!
Kara: So yeah, like we were saying it's all fun and games until the human body starts fighting back.
Gilly: Uch, immune systems are the WORST.
Kara: Yeah, you humans have cells that are specifically bent on destroying us foreign invaders. And it's hard not to take it personally.
Gilly: Seriously, like what did I ever do to you? I mean, we just want to, like, take over your cells. You have lots of them. I don't want to say it's greedy -- but maybe it's a little greedy?
Kara: Your immune system has a bunch of ways of fighting back. Like when you get a fever -- that's your body making it very unpleasant and hot for us.
Gilly: And all that extra snot makes it harder for us to attach to your cells.
Kara: And you know when you feel all tired? That's your body focusing on getting rid of us -- I mean, hello! You don't have endless amounts of energy. You need to pri-or-i-tize.
Gilly: And those aches? Your body is making more cells to fight us off.
Kara: So when you think about it, it's not really us making you feel like poop. It's your own body.
Gilly: Accurate. To be fair, if it didn't stop us we'd take over your entire body. We're ambitious.
Kara: In conclusion, thanks for nothing, humans!
Gilly: Alright, that's all we have time for today.
Kara: Yeah, this is getting me all worked up. I need a break.
Gilly: Until next time, we're gonna hang out on a door handle!
Kara: Byeeee!
Molly: You can learn more about how your immune system springs into action in our episode “How do flu vaccines work?”
Gus: Go check it out! And, Molly, lets…
Molly: Sanitize that microphone those viruses were using?
Gus: Yes.
Molly: Good idea.
[Brains On cue]
Molly: Ok Gus, are you ready to hear the Mystery Sound again?
Gus: Yes.
Molly: All right, here it is:
[Mystery sound]
Molly: Last time you thought maybe a photocopier or a scanner, do you have any new thoughts?
Gus: Well, what's that called when… it's an MRI, right? Where you get put into that big tube-like machine? I thought it might be something like that.
Molly: All right well, the answer is: it's a… automatic hand sanitizer dispenser.
Gus: Ohhhh!
Molly: So it's one of those machines where you stick your hand under and it squirts out some hand sanitizer right into your hand.
Gus: Yeah, they have those at the zoo up the hill from my house at the bird feeding exhibit.
Molly: Yeah. They are very handy to have around, especially these days when people are talking about washing their hands and keeping them very clean to stop this virus from spreading.
Molly: Like we mentioned -- the coronavirus seems to hit grown-ups harder than kids.
Gus: Yeah, and even though most people have gotten better, a virus-like this can be especially dangerous for older adults and people already dealing with other medical issues.
Molly: Right. So it's up to all of us to stop this virus from spreading.
Gus: That's why we're sharing this important message from two stars of the WHF.
Molly: World Handwashing Federation!
[Wrestling music]
Hygiene Hank: Listen here Coronavirus -- Hygiene Hank has some words for you.
PJ McSuds: That's right - and you're gonna feel the wrath of me -- PJ McSuds. Boo yah!
Hygiene Hank: We're gonna tag team this situation and body slam you back into oblivion pal!
PJ McSuds: We're gonna dropkick you into the dark ages!
Hygiene Hank: We're gonna sanitize you into smithereens!
PJ McSuds: Coronavirus -- when we're done with you, you'll be the one needing lots of fluids and two weeks bedrest. Boo yah!
Hygiene Hank: First off we're gonna hit ya where it hurts -- on our hands!
PJ McSuds: That's right, we're gonna scrub our mitts for 20 seconds -- AT LEAST!
Hygiene Hank: And we're gonna make sure we wash our nail beds, our knuckles and all those little nooks and crannies where cowards like you like to hide!
PJ McSuds: PJ McSuds likes to sing her ABCs to make sure she's washing long enough. Boo yah!
Hygiene Hank: Oh yeah, that's a jam! And Hygiene Hank likes to hum happy birthday…
PJ McSuds: Mmmhm
Hygiene Hank: -- TWICE!
PJ McSuds: Whoa -- You're an animal Hank!
Hygiene Hank: I KNOW!
PJ McSuds: And hear this Coronavirus -- we might even use hand sanitizer on you!
Hygiene Hank: Oooh yeah. It's gonna be the kind with at least 60 percent alcohol -- because we know that's the kind that wipes out little nitwits like you.
PJ McSuds: But don't you think for a minute we're just gonna sanitize and forget about washing -- because PJ McSuds and Hygiene Hank know that handwashing is still the NUMBER ONE way to get rid of viruses -- but sometimes we can't find a sink, so we sanitize.
Hygiene Hank: Nail on the head PJ. Nail on the head. And you know what else we're gonna do my compadre?
PJ McSuds: Oh do I ever.
Hygiene Hank: We're going to hit you with our famous…
Both: Power Elbow!
PJ McSuds: KA POW! That's when we sneeze or cough -- right into our elbows!
Hank Hygiene: That way if we're sick we don't spread you and your puny little friends around in the air!
PJ McSuds: No way brother!
Hygiene Hank: Are we gonna wear masks PJ McSuds?
PJ: Only if we're sick Hank. Because most masks don't really stop viruses from getting to you.
Hygiene Hank: But they do seem to help if you're sick and you don't want to spread it.
PJ McSuds: But most of the time -- you can try to stay safe by standing 3 to 6 feet away from someone who might be sick.
Hygiene Hank: But PJ, I got a serious question here my friend -- what if we're working in a hospital?
PJ McSuds: You mean, like when PJ McSuds moonlights as a nurse?
Hygiene Hank: Of course I do PJ!
PJ McSuds: Well -- if someone is sick with coronavirus and PJ McSuds is caring for them, then PJ McSuds wears... an N95 mask!
Hygiene Hank: No! Not the --
PJ McSuds: YES - the N…
Hygiene Hank: Ohhh no.
PJ McSuds: Ninety…
Hygiene Hank: Let ‘em have it compadre...
PJ McSuds: ...FIVE!
Hygiene Hank: BOOM. THERE IT IS! The gold standard for healthcare professionals.
But regular ‘ol blokes, or even super wrestlers like me -- we don't need that. Because you know what coronavirus -- we have another way to knock you out.
PJ McSuds: That's right, we're gonna pin you down for the count with our famous finisher! The N-T-O-F...
Both: NOT TOUCHING OUR FACE!
Hygiene Hank: That's where we don't touch our face with our hands…. unless we've washed them…
PJ McSuds: Yeah, that's pretty much it. Just use a tissue instead bruh.
