What if viruses suddenly disappeared?
Tony Goldberg, an epidemiologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, says: "If viruses suddenly disappeared from existence, the world would enjoy a wonderful life for about a day and a half, and after that we would all die, as viruses play important roles for the world that far outweigh their harm."
The vast majority of viruses do not cause disease in humans, many contribute to supporting ecosystems, and some maintain the health of living organisms, from fungi and plants to insects and humans.
"We live in a tight ecological balance," says Susana López-Chariton, a virologist at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Viruses are part of that balance. Chariton believes that if viruses disappeared, we would be doomed to annihilate.