Botanist: How is this disease possible?

Question

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/pictures/enlarge/69502/ajax=1/parent=69501

Answer 1

His affliction is caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), a fairly common infection that usually causes small warts to develop on sufferers.

The problem is that he has a rare genetic fault that impedes his immune system, meaning his body is unable to contain the warts.

The virus was therefore able to "hijack the cellular machinery of his skin cells", ordering them to produce massive amounts of the substance that caused the tree-like growths known as "cutaneous horns" on his hands and feet.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnew...

Answer 2

i saw this man on television this week and the doctor had this to say about him:

His ailment is caused by just common warts. However- he has a very low white blood cell count that cannot fight off the viral wart infection.  If he didnt have the ill effects of the low white blood cell count, he could have fought off the infection.

i know it's not an article related answer, but i watched this on tv. i just couldn't believe something so terrible would happen to someone.