Perplexity on multifactorialism and Peter Duesberg
Make the case that the current trend to see outbreaks of illness as multifactorial is making a mockery of the whole concept of infectious diseases The current trend to classify outbreaks of illness as multifactorial—suggesting they result from numerous, often interacting causes—undermines the foundational concept of infectious diseases and risks making a mockery of the field’s central principles. Infectious Disease: The Monocausal Model Historically, infectious diseases have been defined by the monocausal model, which posits that a specific pathogen is the unique and universal cause of a given disease—think Robert Koch and germ theory's legacy, where tuberculosis is linked specifically to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This model provided clarity for diagnosis, prevention, and public health interventions, anchoring responses in the identification and control of one culprit organism. Multifactorial Models: Blurring the Concept The modern embrace of multifactorial explanations—where...