Increased virulence or genetic mixing could occur with ANY flu strain and H5N1. But, for some reason, only H1N1 gets the government’s panties in a bunch. So, I stand by my hypothesis that government could be using the relatively exotic H1N1 as a boogeyman to scare people into accepting bigger government (in this case, in the area of infectious diseases).
I couldn't agree more. This may very well be the chosen “crisis” but, that does not negate the fact that it could devastate the population if a reassortment of H5N1 with any easily transmissible virus occurs.
There are some odd things that have happened recently that are not easily explained.
1. Baxter, a flu vaccine company which is one of the few companies who claimed they could fast track the H1N1 vaccine, sent out avian flu infected SEASONAL flu vaccine in Feb.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aTo3LbhcA75I
2. The scientist who was instrumental in discovering Tamiflu, came out with a statement that H1N1 may very well be a “lab- manufactured” virus. The WHO quickly dismissed his comments.
3. The push to put out a vaccine which will take weeks, and 2-3 doses to be effective, when the virus has already infected large numbers of people without an enormous number of deaths is puzzling.
Any virologist would tell you that there is no guarantee that the vaccine they finally produce will have any effect at all if the virus mutates.
This website will ensure you that there are others skeptical of the hype surrounding the present state of the H1N1 condition....