What is the birthdate of this prominent sufferer of severe combined immunodeficiency, referred to as the bubble boy, famous for living in a sterile environment?
David Vetter David Phillip Vetter (September 21, 1971 – February 22, 1984) was a prominent sufferer of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), a hereditary disease which dramatically weakens the immune system. Individuals born with SCID are abnormally susceptible to infections, and exposure to typically innocuous pathogens can be fatal. Vetter was referred to as "David, the bubble boy" by the media. Vetter's surname (last name) was not revealed to the general public until 10 years after his death in order to preserve his family's privacy.
Robert Shope Robert Ellis Shope (February 21, 1929 – January 19, 2004) was an American virologist, epidemiologist and public health expert, particularly known for his work on arthropod-borne viruses and emerging infectious diseases. He discovered more novel viruses than any person previously, including members of the "Arenavirus", "Hantavirus", "Lyssavirus" and "Orbivirus" genera of RNA viruses. He researched significant human diseases, including dengue, Lassa fever, Rift Valley fever, yellow fever, viral hemorrhagic fevers and Lyme disease. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of viruses, and curated a global reference collection of over 5,000 viral strains. He was the lead author of a groundbreaking report on the threat posed by emerging infectious diseases, and also advised on climate change and bioterrorism.