On the flip side, they are so deadly the burn themselves out, or at least we can hope they do.
Will the new strains invalidate innoculations?
If not, then it doesn't seem like that great of a threat. Troublesome, but not earth shattering (unless you get it).
In the USA, nobody is inoculated against TB. They are given the TB Tine Test which shows if they have been exposed.
In some countries, they do give an inoculation, which only protects about 50% of the time and leaves a huge, ugly scar on the shoulder of the inoculee.
We have AIDS to thank for this. TB is common in people infected with AIDS and the bodies of AIDS patients are like petri dishes for breeding new, drug-resistant pathogens.
Coming soon to a city in America...
"TB is on the increase in the UK. Last year there were around 7,000 cases of TB in Britain. Hundreds died from this disease.
An undetected infectious TB victim will, on average, infect another 10 cases in a year, each of whom could transmit the disease in turn."
Even more troubling was this It is estimated that 1/3 of the world's population is infected
Reason Number 7987620185654 to CLOSE THE DAMN BORDERS!
TB or Bird Flu. Which will get me first? Deserves watching because 3rd world people are migrating everywhere.
"QUETZALTENANGO, Guatemala -- Across Central America, growing numbers of impoverished children appear to be setting out for the United States on their own, risking robbery, rape and death as they try to sneak illegally through Mexico and across the U.S. border."
My wife could make decent money as a medical translator - she is fluent in English and in several Mexican dialects and has a medical background - but there is no way in hell I want her exposed to some of the crap that is going to be in hospitals soon because we are not controlling immigration. Above and beyond the economic and national security interests of controlling the borders, it will soon become a national health issue - we need to have control of our borders so we can give health screenings for those we admit legally to this country and try to keep some of these problems out.
Oh...those entering our country just walk in illegally.
Well, maybe we do have a problem.
Whether it turns out to be TB, bird flu or some pox, the next pandemic may well be a drug-resistant form. Those who are naturally strong and resistant will live.