[Melinator]

40 cases in the Congo is not cause for real fear. However, the Ebola virus strain recently found in pigs is very scary. Bacteria and viruses are rarely able to infect more than one species of animal. Judging by the article, this Ebola strain has been found in crab-eating macacques, primates, and pigs. That is scary indeed.

[ga medic]

Pigs are interesting incubators for some viruses. They are the only species that is able to carry influenza strains from both humans and birds, and that makes them the most likely culprit in new influenza strains. I don’t know whether they are able to carry strains of Ebola from humans and primates, but epidemiologists are always watchful of swine infections.

[null and void]

40 cases in the Congo is not cause for real fear. However, the Ebola virus strain recently found in pigs is very scary. Bacteria and viruses are rarely able to infect more than one species of animal. Judging by the article, this Ebola strain has been found in crab-eating macacques, primates, and pigs. That is scary indeed.

You missed the really bad news. Pigs are quite good at mixing and matching viral DNA, they are where new flu strains originate.

Airborne Ebola-flu, anyone?