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| Science & Technology |
| Now Two Strains Of Avian Flu |
| 2006-03-20 |
| Analyses of H5N1 Southeast Asian bird flu samples shows the two strains causing human disease are related and belong to two distinct genetic subgroups. "As the virus continues its geographic expansion, it is also undergoing genetic diversity expansion," said Rebecca Garten, a researcher on the study. "Back in 2003 we only had one genetically distinct population of H5N1 with the potential to cause a human pandemic. Now we have two." What that means, says Garten, is that the pool of H5N1 candidates with the potential to cause a human influenza pandemic is getting more genetically diverse, which makes studying the virus more complex and heightens the need for increased surveillance. She expects further continued diversity in the future. "Change is the only constant," said Garten. "Only time will tell whether the virus evolves or mutates in such a way that it can be transmitted from human to human efficiently." The findings by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were reported Monday in Atlanta, Ga., during the International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #6 learn to wash your hands at ALL opportunities....and maybe stock up on masks |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-03-20 23:16 |
| #5 This strain is considered to be possibly related to the Spanish Flu strain that killed millions worldwide. (My aunt died from that when she was 2. My dad was their parents' replacement baby.) It's worth it to study this. Even if it doesn't turn into another Spanish Flu, there is probably something else out there that could turn into one. Keep in mind that people can and do jet from the jungles to major population centers in about a day, and factor in the scary truth that we don't have any "magic bullet" antibiotics left. If we are unlucky, some virus could wreak destruction even worse than the Spanish Flu did. Get some of the lessons out of the way now. We waste billions on other stupid crap, why not spend a little on something that might actually pay off? |
| Posted by: Desert Blondie 2006-03-20 21:33 |
| #4 This really is the #1 risk factor. Killer flu has long menaced the US because we know what it can do. AIDS is tiny in comparison. So is every other biological threat short of smallpox. The bad form of smallpox had a 20-40% mortality. Avian flu has somehow maintained 50%. This puts these two in a class by themselves. It close to matches the projected lethality of a nuclear detonation in a major city in the US. It is the big one. And yet, having said all of that, the US will get off lightly, compared to most of the rest of the world. Don't panic. That will accomplish nothing. All you can do is wait. And when and if it comes keep your wits about you. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2006-03-20 21:26 |
| #3 agreed |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-03-20 21:20 |
| #2 Worth it to track this thing and jump start vaccines if it does mutate enough for direct human - human transmission. Some risks are worth taking insurance out against IMO. |
| Posted by: lotp 2006-03-20 20:50 |
| #1 And more funding. |
| Posted by: Bobby 2006-03-20 20:29 |