Disturbing information within the reporting about new "swine" flu outbreak.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

Dr. Anne Schuchat of the CDC said officials believe it can spread human-to-human, which is unusual for a swine flu virus.

The CDC is checking people who have been in contact with the seven confirmed cases, who all became ill between late March and mid-April.

Because of intensive searching, it's likely health officials will find additional cases, said Schuchat, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

CDC officials detected a virus with a unique combination of gene segments that have not been seen in people or pigs before. The bug contains human virus, avian virus from North America and pig viruses from North America, Europe and Asia.

Health officials have seen mixes of bird, pig and human virus before, but never such an intercontinental combination with more than one pig virus in the mix.


http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gzz357patY4-QaJFvo9O95zMM_EQD97OFAI80


At least 4 different strains of influenza from 3 different species from 3 different continents. This is far beyond my training, hopefully someone will be able to tell us the chances of this occurring naturally.


David

[aquart]

1. You're thinking first biowar plague?

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

3. Don't really know what to think, seems very unlikely to occur naturally to me.

But as I stated I'm no expert, that's why I posed the question.

David

[Liberal Veteran]

6. The questions you posed are the stuff of which nightmares are made.

It sounds engineered on the surface. I'm no expert on these matters either. My first thought would be that had this been an engineered virus that was accidentally released, the we wouldn't see that kind of detail released.

It still leaves two possibilities:

1. Mother Nature has getting a bit more Julia Child in the virus kitchen and this is a perfectly natural occurrence.

2. (Donning tinfoil hat) This was an engineered virus released intentionally.

The latter of course, leaves open a cornucopia of possible motives. Was it an external source? Was it intentionally released as an act of domestic terrorism? A very large diversionary tactic?

Thus, the stuff of which nightmares are made.

[Liberal Veteran]

2. That's okay. I have it on excellent authority that influenza isn't all that serious...

I assume the sarcasm smiley is unnecessary.

[Divine Discontent]

4. yikes! that sounds really bad to me, too. I will be praying, I believe in it, & thank you for this

post of yours.... that kind of mixed strain reminds me of this -

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

5. Fortunately it hasn't proved very virulent.

[xchrom]

7. no -- but that doesn't mean it can't.

remnants of the virus may survive until next year -- percolating along.

could be worse -- or not of course.

[newfie11]

8. Mexico has already had 60 deaths

and 1000 people affected.
I guess it is responding to antiviral drugs here in America. I wonder if Mexico was slow in giving them.

The 1918 flu contained bird/swine flu. This new one has, bird/swine/and human. It could be a very scary thing. Time will tell.