If all humans were isolated from one another, the St. Kilda scenario would play out on a species-wide scale. After a week or two, our colds would run their course, and healthy immune systems would have plenty of time to clear the viruses.
如果所有人都被相互隔离开来，圣基尔达岛上发生的故事将会在这里重演。一两周后，感冒病毒也走上了消亡的道路，健康的免疫系统有充足的时间把它们全部清除掉。
Unfortunately, there's one catch, and it's enough to unravel the whole plan: We don't all have healthy immune systems.
但不幸的是，有一个陷阱足以毁掉这个计划：并不是所有人都拥有健康的免疫系统。
In most people, rhinoviruses are fully cleared from the body within about ten days. The story is different for those with severely weakened immune systems. In transplant patients, for example, whose immune systems have been artificially suppressed, common infections-including rhinoviruses-can linger for weeks, months, or conceivably years.
在绝大多数人体内，鼻病毒会在大约10天内被清除干净，但对于那些免疫力系统严重受损的人来说可就不是这样了。比如说接受器官移植的患者的免疫系统被人为地抑制，普通的感染——包括鼻病毒——能够持续数周、数月甚至数年。
This small group of immunocompromised people would serve as safe havens for rhinoviruses. The hope of eradicating them is slim; they would need to survive in only a few hosts in order to sweep out and retake the world.
这些免疫功能不健全的人会成为鼻病毒的安全乐园。想要彻底消除它们几乎是不可能的事情，这些鼻病毒只需再感染几个宿主就能再度爆发，感染全世界。
In addition to probably causing the collapse of civilization, Sarah's plan wouldn't eradicate rhinoviruses.9 However, this might be for the best!
不但我们的文明极有可能会因此崩塌，萨拉的计划也不一定能够消灭鼻病毒，而且这可能还是件好事！
While colds are no fun, their absence might be worse. In his book A Planet of Viruses, author Carl Zimmer says that children who aren't exposed to rhinoviruses have more immune disorders as adults. It's possible that these mild infections serve to train and calibrate our immune systems.
虽然得感冒一点都不好玩，但没有感冒的世界会变得更糟。卡尔•齐默在他的新书《病毒星球》中声称，和成年人相比，没有接触过鼻病毒的儿童更容易产生免疫紊乱。一种可能的解释是像这样温和的感染事件会起到锻炼并校准免疫系统的作用。
On the other hand, colds suck. And in addition to being unpleasant, some research says infections by these viruses also weaken our immune systems directly and can open us up to further infections.
但从另一方面来说，得感冒感觉太糟了。除此之外，一些研究表示由这些病毒引起的感染会削弱我们的免疫系统，为进一步的感染敞开大门。
All in all, I wouldn't stand in the middle of a desert for five weeks to rid myself of colds forever. But if they ever come up with a rhinovirus vaccine, I'll be first in line.
总的来说，我才不会在沙漠里站5个星期只为永远摆脱感冒。但如果有人发明出了鼻病毒疫苗的话，我一定会第一时间去接种的。