If it was in fact an influenza strain that killed the couple in Fiji it should have been identified early on, first as influenza and then as known strain or novel strain. No reason it should take days or weeks to get the preliminary indication. Possible the identification has been made but is being held up for political reasons.
Held for political reasons...
That’s exactly what I was thinking. I suspect much as you that the various CDC’s involved already know what it was. But it actually might not be influenza, it could be a look-alike like adenovirus...
I think it’s because they can’t return the bodies to the US until this is identified. I read that if it is definitely the flu or some other virus (and not something like carbon monoxide poisoning in their hotel room), they will have to cremate the bodies before they can be returned.
I remember with the 2009 swine flu (was it that long ago???) the flu was very strange and often evaded the flu tests; ie did not show up. Many unusual aspects to that flu.
Bingo. Hence the ‘unidentified’ bit.
If they called our CDC, then it’s on.