Hold on to your masks... H5N1

[MorePower4me 0]

Recent research has shown the 1918 Flu Pandemic (a 50-100 million killer) to be an avian flu (H5N1) that had mutated/re-assorted to be more easily transmitted from human to human.

H1N1 (swine) has been considered very easy to transmit, but not a high mortality rate.

H5N1 (avian) has been considered difficult to transmit, but a very high (as high as 60%) mortality rate.

It is possible for a human to be simultaneously infected with H5N1 and H1N1 and in such a situation it is possible/likely(?) that the virus can re-assort to take the valuable parts of each virus.

In Chile, the H1N1 (swine) has been reported in Turkeys (birds) meaning the H1N1 has re-assorted itself to infect where the H5N1 typically only has. The CDC is watching this, and parts of Egypt where both H5N1 & H1N1 cases have been reported (separately so far) in humans.

The CDC has just started its own testing by simultaneously infecting ferrets with H1N1 & H5N1 to get the virus to re-assort (hopefully/presumably to get a virus ready.)

The above are facts pulled (in context) from various articles/research (Google 'h1n1 h5n1 reassortment' if you'd like to see them). My opinion, is oh sh*t.

While I worry about the possibly re-assortment in Egypt with humans, the move from turkey to migratory bird is a quick one, and we can't close the borders to birds...

Any other thoughts on this one? I know we have some sharp/science-y guys on the board.

[Chadd 916]

There have been avian flu fears for years. There are always a few cases found somewhere in the world every year and the media usually gets fired up trying to scare the hell out of everyone. I believe the last time there was a significant pocket of avian flu was a few years ago in china.

[number21 3]

There has been talk of the H1N1 mutating from the beginning.

Don't fall into a panic, wash your hands, avoid touching your face and get vaccinated if you see fit. There is not a whole lot more you can do.

[K9 Unit 1]

1918 would be the spanish flu right?

There have been avian flu fears for years. There are always a few cases found somewhere in the world every year and the media usually gets fired up trying to scare the hell out of everyone. I believe the last time there was a significant pocket of avian flu was a few years ago in china.

i was in hk then, everybody was killing chickens and stuff, it was nuts

[number21 3]

we'll all be dead in 2012 anyway right?

[MorePower4me 0]

There have been avian flu fears for years. There are always a few cases found somewhere in the world every year and the media usually gets fired up trying to scare the hell out of everyone. I believe the last time there was a significant pocket of avian flu was a few years ago in china.

According to W.H.O, 47 total cases this year, but 36 just in Egypt, (and these are only the 'lab confirmed' cases, so you can guess your own lab to untested ratio)

What I found most interesting is that there really wasn't too much media fanfare about this at all. An article in the WSJ talking about the CDC ferrets, but that was about it.

[Chadd 916]

There have been avian flu fears for years. There are always a few cases found somewhere in the world every year and the media usually gets fired up trying to scare the hell out of everyone. I believe the last time there was a significant pocket of avian flu was a few years ago in china.

According to W.H.O, 47 total cases this year, but 36 just in Egypt, (and these are only the 'lab confirmed' cases, so you can guess your own lab to untested ratio)

What I found most interesting is that there really wasn't too much media fanfare about this at all. An article in the WSJ talking about the CDC ferrets, but that was about it.

47 cases out of 5 billion people is not much. Even 36 in Egypt is not worth getting worked up about, unless you live in their part of Egypt.