Info Dumping
The joy of sharing my Special Interest
Today I will be talking about the concept of ‘info dumping’, ironically by doing just that.
‘Info dumping’ refers to the tendency for autistic individuals to share a large amount of information on a particular topic, often in a detailed and enthusiastic way. It can be described as a form of monologuing or excessive talking that is driven by a strong interest or passion in a particular subject.
For many autistic individuals, their areas of interest can be very specific and intense, and we may have a wealth of knowledge and information to share about these topics. When we become excited about a particular subject, we feel a strong urge to share everything we know about it, often in great detail.
Our areas of special interests can vary widely and may include anything from specific areas of academic study to hobbies. For example, I have a deep interest in zoonotic viruses (triggered by the Covid pandemic), Autism (because, well, you know) and Star Wars (because I like to fit the stereotype sometimes).
One of the defining features of our special interests is the level of intensity and focus that we can exhibit when engaging with these topics. We usually spend hours researching, reading, or learning about them and can develop an encyclopaedic knowledge of our chosen topic.
Info dumping on these interests can occur in a variety of settings, including in conversations with friends and family members, in classrooms, at work, or online (in as a blog on our intranet). We probably won’t recognise when others are becoming disinterested and will continue to share information long after you have stopped paying attention.
Info dumping is not necessarily a negative behaviour. It’s a natural way for autistic people to communicate and if we do it with you, without constantly apologising, then it’s often a sign that we are comfortable in your company. When we info dump with each other, it’s like when others engage in small talk — a mutually enjoyable activity with a shared connection.
The following is an example of what info dumping looks like, using one of my interests. As I mentioned, I am fascinated by zoonotic viruses.
A zoonotic virus is a type of virus that can be transmitted from animals to humans. They can can cause a range of illnesses in humans, including severe and potentially fatal diseases — the most recent and well-known example being SARS-CoV-2 (better known as Covid-19).
Zoonotic viruses pose a very real and ongoing public health risk, and the next pandemic is just around the corner — 75% of emerging viruses are zoonotic in nature. As such, there is ongoing research and surveillance efforts to better understand the emergence and spread of these viruses, as well as strategies for their prevention and control.
Several zoonotic viruses have caused significant mortality in humans, this is just a small list:
- Ebola virus: Ebola virus is a highly infectious virus that causes severe haemorrhagic fever, with mortality rates ranging from 25% to 90%.
- Hantavirus: Hantavirus is a family of viruses that can cause severe respiratory illness or haemorrhagic fever, with mortality rates ranging from 1% to 50%. The virus is primarily transmitted through contact with infected rodents.
- Influenza A virus: Influenza A virus is a type of virus that causes seasonal flu outbreaks.
- Hendra virus: Hendra virus is a virus that is primarily transmitted to humans through contact with infected horses. The virus can cause severe respiratory and neurological illness, with mortality rates ranging from 40% to 75%.
- Marburg virus: Marburg virus is closely related to Ebola and also causes severe haemorrhagic fever.
- Nipah virus: Nipah virus is a virus that is primarily transmitted to humans through contact with infected fruit bats or pigs. The virus can cause severe respiratory and neurological illness, with mortality rates ranging from 40% to 75%.
- Rift Valley fever virus: Rift Valley fever virus is a virus that primarily affects domestic animals but can also cause severe illness in humans. The virus is transmitted through contact with infected animal tissues or blood, and outbreaks have occurred primarily in Africa.
- Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus: Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus is a virus that is primarily transmitted through contact with infected ticks or livestock. The virus can cause severe haemorrhagic fever, with mortality rates ranging from 10% to 40%.
- Lassa fever virus: Lassa fever virus is a virus that is primarily transmitted through contact with infected rodents or their bodily fluids. The virus can cause severe haemorrhagic fever, with mortality rates ranging from 1% to 15%. Outbreaks have occurred primarily in West Africa.
- HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system, leading to the development of AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). Although HIV is primarily transmitted through sexual contact and the sharing of needles, it originated in non-human primates and crossed over to humans through zoonotic transmission.
Let’s look at the last one in a little more detail…
The first evidence of HIV in humans dates back to the early 1900s, but it was not until the 1980s that the virus was identified as the cause of AIDS. It was not until the late 1990s that researchers were able to identify the specific species of primate that was the likely source of the virus. It is now believed that HIV originated in chimpanzees, and was transmitted to humans through the hunting and consumption of bushmeat.
The process by which HIV crossed over from chimpanzees to humans is still not fully understood, but it is believed to have involved a series of mutations in the virus that allowed it to adapt to human cells. Scientists have identified several different strains of HIV, each with their own genetic characteristics and geographic distribution. Some strains of the virus are more prevalent in certain regions of the world, while others are more virulent and resistant to treatment.
As this example shows, zoonotic viruses can be transmitted to humans through a variety of routes, including direct contact with infected animals or their bodily fluids. One of the major virus reservoirs is bats.
Bats play an important role in zoonotic viruses, as they are known to carry a wide range of viruses due to several factors, including the large numbers of different bat species, their high population densities, and their unique immune systems.
Bats are known to carry coronaviruses (!), filoviruses, and paramyxoviruses, many of which can all cause severe illness in humans. It is believed that they are primarily transmitted through contact with bat saliva, urine, or faeces.
While bats are reservoirs of zoonotic viruses, they also play a valuable role in maintaining the ecosystem health by controlling insect populations and pollinating plants. It is therefore important to balance efforts to control the spread of zoonotic viruses with efforts to conserve bat populations and their habitats.
If we want to reduce the risk of zoonotic transmission from bats to humans then we need to minimise contact with bats and bat habitats. This is one of the reasons why a ‘green policy’ is important. Green policies can help bats is by promoting habitat conservation and restoration. Restoring natural habitats such as forests, wetlands, and grasslands can provide important resources for bats and reduce the proximity of bats to humans and livestock — thus reducing the potential of zoonotic transmission.
But let’s not blame bats here…
Human actions can increase the risk of zoonotic viruses in a number of ways.
Primarily this is through the destruction of natural habitats and the encroachment of settlements into previously undisturbed areas. This can lead to increased contact between humans and wild animals (including the aforementioned bats), and can create opportunities for zoonotic viruses to jump from animal hosts to humans.
In addition, the global trade in wildlife, including both legal and illegal trade, can increase the risk of zoonotic virus transmission. The handling, transportation, and sale of live animals (Wuhan?!) can create opportunities for viruses to spread between animals and humans.
Human activities related to agriculture and food production can also increase the risk of zoonotic viruses. For example, the intensification of agriculture and the use of antibiotics in livestock production can create conditions that are favourable for the emergence and spread of zoonotic pathogens.
Finally, increased travel can facilitate the rapid spread of zoonotic viruses across geographic regions. As people and goods move more freely around the world, zoonotic viruses can spread quickly from one region to another.
So, there we have it. And I cut that very short.
This blog post has been an info dump about info dumping, using an info dump with an apparently random link to why a ‘Green Policy’ is about more than carbon footprints or air pollution. Multiple strands of thought and information, interlinked. I am 100% autistic, and yes, this is how my brain works. All the time.
I hope that you learned something today, or at least that you made it this far without totally losing interest. If nothing else, I hope that it has whet your appetite to learn more about zoonotics and gives a new understanding of how humanity’s impact on the environment increases the chances of another Covid-style pandemic.
I’m now off to stock up on toilets rolls and recheck my ‘Grab-and-Go Bag’ in readiness for the next lockdown.
