The first model is definitely possible, maybe even probable.
The second model--I think that Avian Flu causes a vigorous immune response, and in the case of those victims who develop cytokine storm, a deadly vigorous immune response.
Incidently, for those reading here I want to point out that there is solid research showing that Haldol (yes, the major tranquilizer antipsychotic HALDOL) is useful in treating cytokine storm, more so than prednisone or other steroids. Google can point to many articles about this.
Please please please put that info about Haldol in the back of your mind. You never know if it might be useful, especially if someone you love has that kind of response to the flu. Cytokine storm can kill. Haldol may help treat it.
That's interesting, how does it work for cytokine storm? Since it is a major tranquilizer does it "calm" down the immune system therefore calming the storm? I doubt that a doctor would hand out a prescription for Haldol for a "just in case" scenario.
"Haldol (yes, the major tranquilizer antipsychotic HALDOL) is useful in treating cytokine storm"
Interesting. I can see it as an adjunct to the prednisone, the respiratory treatments and the antivirals especially when someone is put on a respirator.
I know when my otherwise placid kid had the cytokine storm from that Norovirus there was nothing that could calm her down enough to take the predisone pill (and the prednisolone liquid was as bad as gasoline)- that taste alone was so vile that the treatment seemed to work against itself initially. We tried every flavor at the pharmacy to no avail.