posted by jaysonn on November 4th, 2009 at 12:49PM
>there are lots of deadlier flu strains NOW out there
Why worry about this strain and not other strains? Same article:
Experts are also concerned that the new virus strain could mutate over the coming months. Guan Yi, a leading virologist from the University of Hong Kong, for instance, described the new H1N1 influenza virus as "very unstable", meaning it could mix and swap genetic material (reassortment) when exposed to other viruses. During an interview he said ___"Both H1N1 (swine flue) and H5N1 (bird flu) are unstable so the chances of them exchanging genetic material are higher, whereas a stable (seasonal flu) virus is less likely to take on genetic material."___ The H5N1 virus is mostly limited to birds, but in rare cases when it infects humans it has a mortality rate of between 60% to 70%. [19]
Here's the kicker:
Experts worry about the emergence of a hybrid of the more virulent Asian-lineage HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) A/H5N1 strain (media labeled "bird flu") with more human-transmissible Influenza A strains such as this novel 2009 swine-origin A/H1N1 strain (media labeled "swine flu"), especially since the H5N1 strain is and has been for years endemic in birds in countries like China, Indonesia, Vietnam and Egypt.
There are good reasons to fear H1N1 more than seasonal flu.
More anti-science ignorant nonsense here.
Why worry about this strain and not other strains? Same article:
Experts are also concerned that the new virus strain could mutate over the coming months. Guan Yi, a leading virologist from the University of Hong Kong, for instance, described the new H1N1 influenza virus as "very unstable", meaning it could mix and swap genetic material (reassortment) when exposed to other viruses. During an interview he said ___"Both H1N1 (swine flue) and H5N1 (bird flu) are unstable so the chances of them exchanging genetic material are higher, whereas a stable (seasonal flu) virus is less likely to take on genetic material."___ The H5N1 virus is mostly limited to birds, but in rare cases when it infects humans it has a mortality rate of between 60% to 70%. [19]
Here's the kicker:
Experts worry about the emergence of a hybrid of the more virulent Asian-lineage HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) A/H5N1 strain (media labeled "bird flu") with more human-transmissible Influenza A strains such as this novel 2009 swine-origin A/H1N1 strain (media labeled "swine flu"), especially since the H5N1 strain is and has been for years endemic in birds in countries like China, Indonesia, Vietnam and Egypt.
There are good reasons to fear H1N1 more than seasonal flu.
More anti-science ignorant nonsense here.
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posted by dennisn on November 4th, 2009 at 12:52PM
And there are far better reasons to fear many other viruses and diseases than these two. IMHO, this is quite blatantly the media-darling for the State-Health-Industrial-Complex ... they need a single simple and sexy cause they can rally behind to get money / power / control.
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