Apocalypse Soon > The End
For Christ sake..
Shadow:
It has begun to mutate from the tests Scientists have done on it.
Devious Viper:
--- Quote from: maggot man ---Let's hope the viruse never mutates,eh? If it does,we can start expecting the bodies to pile up.
--- End quote ---
This seems to be the big problem - it constantly mutates. And some of its current mutations are masking its presence... The disease may be occurring more often in humans than previously expected but without typical influenza respiratory symptoms.
Two Vietnamese children who died in 2004 of diarrhoea and apparent encephalitis actually had H5N1 bird flu, British and Vietnamese scientists have reported. The cases raise the frightening possibility that there have been far more human infections with H5N1 than thought, because many cases have been overlooked by doctors watching for the fever and cough of typical flu.
Should we be worried about this? I think so. I would not be the least bit surprised if later this year or in 2006 or 2007 tens of millions of people died worldwide from a further mutated strain of the H5N1 bird flu. All it would take would be for that bird influenza virus and an influenza virus from humans to infect an animal or human at the same time. Then the two strains could have their DNA recombined into a strain that has the deadliness of the avian flu and the transmissibility of a human flu. The result would be a pandemic in which each of us would lose family members, neighbours and friends.
~ Viper ~
Zak Roy Yoballa:
Mutations of viruses are not an uncommon trait. It should also be noted that there is a mathmatical formula (I don't remember its name :( ) that basically states that there will always be a big increase at first and then a decline and these will be related to time. For instance if the infection spreads quickly it will peak quickly and then fade away. The Americas have recently been hit (about 5 years ago) by the west nile virus, carried by birds and transmitted via mosquitos. The initial infection rate (and subsequent media hype) was startling but the cases in Ohio have dropped dramically and only 4 cases were reported this year. Yes flu's can be deadly, especially to the old and very young, but the best defense is good hygiene. So relax a little, the media likes the hype.
ZRY
Shadow:
But scientists think that the climax will be massive.
Devious Viper:
The Spanish flu virus that killed up to 100 million (equivalent to 350 million given today's population) people in 1918-19 was probably a strain that originated in birds, research has shown. US scientists have found the 1918 virus shares genetic mutations with the bird flu virus now circulating in Asia. It is thought to have originated in the United States in Feb 1918. Movements of US and other troops help spread the virus.
The researchers believe the two other major flu pandemics of the 20th century - in 1957 and 1968 - were caused by human flu viruses which acquired two or three key genes from bird flu virus strains. But they believe the 1918 strain was entirely a bird flu virus that adapted to function in humans.
~ Viper ~
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