We face something worse than a war.
As far as the health authorities are concerned, it is only a matter of time before the world faces an influenza pandemic. Already by far the most lethal disease, with from 30-50,000 Americans dying of ordinary influenza every year, the H5N1 Avian flu could kill around 30M Americans. World estimates approach 1 billion dead.
It is a truly unique organism, and has consistently maintained a 60% mortality rate, along with many other unusual and dangerous differences from ordinary flu. Even the Spanish flu of 1918 only achieved close to an 18% mortality rate, and it traumatized a generation.
The reason it has not yet become easily transmissible between people is because it tends to reproduce in the lower trachea instead of the upper trachea and sinuses, making it somewhat harder to spread. This is not a major adaptation, and could happen at any moment.
Currently, it is expanding its endemic base in Asia, and it presents a double dilemma. The first is that it becomes a human to human form which will spread so explosively that it will be worldwide within a few weeks.
The other dilemma is because of another characteristic of H5N1, that it has an unusually high number of animal vectors, even those with very different immune systems, like cats and dogs. It has even been found in fish. Because even if it does not mutate to an H2H form, it could wipe out many of the worlds farm and food animals, causing extensive starvation.
The odds of a pandemic of Avian flu have been very high for the last few years, and will almost certainly happen before the end of this depression.
An interesting item about the Spanish Influenza epidemic....it likely started at Camp Funstun area of Fort Riley, Kansas amongst US troops getting ready to ship out for WWI.
It’s taking too long; if what you fear were to happen it would be very difficult to connect the dots.
Hmmm. That may be true. This could be a weaponized version of influenza. Who would release it though? That would probably be a better question.