Here is the paper
And here is the a picture of the phylogenetic tree: Larger version here
Larger version hereAm still working on finding the new sequence.
Posted on 04/25/2009 5:51:39 AM PDT by FreedomFighter1013
In a discussion this morning with a cell biologist and medical doctor working at Johns Hopkins, my friend thought this 4-part flu combination is highly unusual and looks like it could be man-made. Especially because it has an avian strain. My doctor friend (he's Taiwanese) explained that in Asia, it's common for a avian-swine-human flu to happen naturally, but this virus first showed up in Mexico, where pigs and ducks are not usually raised together. Also, recombination of more than 2-different flu viruses is extremely rare. I'm just repeating what he said as an expert in the field. He says the CDC needs to explain if there is a possibility that we are under a bio-weapon attack.
From CDC via Wikipedia: Anne Schuchat, director of CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said that the American cases were found to be made up of genetic elements from four different flu viruses -- North American swine influenza, North American avian influenza, human influenza A virus subtype H1N1, and swine influenza virus typically found in Asia and Europe. For two cases a complete genome sequence had been obtained. She said that the virus was resistant to amantadine and rimantadine, but susceptible to oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza).[22][23][24] Preliminary genetic characterization found that the hemagglutinin (HA) gene was similar to that of swine flu viruses present in U.S. pigs since 1999, but the neuraminidase (NA) and matrix protein (M) genes resembled versions present in European swine flu isolates. Viruses with this genetic makeup had not previously been found to be circulating in humans or pigs, but there is no formal national surveillance system to determine what viruses are circulating in pigs in the U.S.[25] The seasonal influenza strain H1N1 vaccine is thought to be unlikely to provide protection.[26]
What has ben the one phrase we all should remember from the first One Hundred Days of this administration? "Never waste a good crisis."
Though I am open to the idea of a man-made virus being unleashed by any number of bad actors, I do not think it is likely. I also do not think it matters so much from where a dangerous outbreak comes but rather what our government does in response.
Nothing, not even a major terrorist attack like in 2001, could be a better trigger for martial law than a devastating health crisis. In response to a terrorist attack or even a large scale act of war, the public will direct their fear and anger at the enemy. A deadly outbreak of contagious disease would leave the public legitimately afraid of everyone and would lead to self-restriction of assembly and travel. Governmental restriction of those rights and and any imposition of federal troops to maintain 'order' would be met with far less outrage than in any other situation.
I am thus far quite skeptical that this is such a 'crisis', but I am concerned that such a scenario could arise and be either grossly mismanaged or frighteningly exploited by this administration. The next couple of weeks will tell us much. Keep your antennae up.
Larger version hereUnder estimating the enemy can be deadly. They may be nuts and extremists on many levels but to write them off as stupid is folly.
Not a claim, only a supposition. And as a amateur journalist, I’ll protect his/her anonymity.
Yes, according to that article it seems that it is more related to the Swine subtype than to the Avian subtype. But that is not the general view, see for instance http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol12no01/05-0979.htm
It was probably multiple reassortment events that produced that virus.
I know you don't have the answer, just ranting.
Now I have read the article not only seen the tree, and the nucleoprotein (NP) gene is somewhat related to the Swine subset, but the other parts of the virus is avian. So the general view is still avian origin of the 1918 virus.
My son is a type 1 diabetic and has selective IGA deficiency. Last fall he got Shingles, salmonella, the flu and mono all within a 3 month time period. (And when he gets sick, he gets *incredibly* sick.) I had to pull him out of school to give his system a break.
I'm about to buy some Tamiflu online. I don't think I'm being paranoid in our situation. I think that many of us who are worried either have poor health or love someone who does.
Not everyone is able to get sick and just shake it off. For those of us on the wrong side of that line, this is *very* scary.
This protocol won’t work in a pandemic. Here’s how the rationing really happens...the respirators fill up in the first few hours with patients, and that’s all she wrote. Unless you’re talking about taking patients off respirators for new patients! Now, what you suggest will come to pass in other ways.
I thought most of this was probably tinfoil stuff and obviously anti-Bush if you start from the beginning of a 1-12 or so series, but eerie after watching that earlier, your comments:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-A8n-6KHsBA&NR=1 Bird Flu Hoax
Specifically it got pretty racist about China, no way to check out any sources, but there was a motive that they need more room, and their cities and water are so polluted. And if I'm checking this right, this series was uploaded in August 2008.
Also it came to mind much that I've read lately about their presence in Africa.
Finally, I noticed that there's nothing out there today about going after Bush people for torture, like it's off the front page (not that it isn't still brewing because it probably is).
Paulson has very close relations with China. Let me see if I can find where I got that.
Paulson has personally built close relations with China during his career. In July 2008 it was reported by The Daily Telegraph that: “Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson has intimate relations with the Chinese elite, dating from his days at Goldman Sachs when he visited the country more than 70 times.”[
[edit] Civic activities
Paulson has been described as an avid nature lover. [36] He has been a member of The Nature Conservancy for decades and was the organization’s board chairman and co-chair of its Asia-Pacific Council.[7] In that capacity, Paulson worked with former President of the People’s Republic of China Jiang Zemin to preserve the Tiger Leaping Gorge in Yunnan province.
Paulson is also on the Board of Directors of the Peregrine Fund; was the founding Chairman of the Advisory Board of the School of Economics and Management of Tsinghua University in Beijing; and, previously served as chairman of the influential trade group, the Financial Services Forum.
Notable among the members of Bush’s cabinet, Paulson has said he is a strong believer in the effect of human activity on global warming and advocates immediate action to decrease this effect. [37]
During his tenure as CEO of Goldman Sachs, Paulson oversaw the corporate donation of 680,000 acres (2,800 km2) on the forested Chilean side of Tierra del Fuego, bringing criticisms from Goldman shareholder groups[38]. He further donated to conservancy causes US$100 million of assets from his wealth, and has pledged his entire fortune for the same purpose upon his death. [39] He has also been considered someone who can influence world and business leaders to think beyond the bottom line.[40]
well the point i was trying to make is that it is available in the usa. It wouldn’t make much sense to make something that is relativity treatable would it?
One can't help but wonder why the attraction especially with somebody like Paulson, like was it part of his job. What you quoted didn't make it totally clear just where his heart was in all of it, leaving his fortune to whom and for what? It's contridictory as now we must compete with China for oil plus they have become one of the world's worst polluters. IMO that's part of why we got set up with them so our mfr's could contravene EPA. But if you really care about environmentalism, it shouldn't be just about your own country IMO. We have no say in China's policies about that AFAIK.
This all hit me when I read the headlines this am so I didn't mean to spread anything malicious about China, but that guy with the videos had an obvious agenda there. It's not one I would have recommended to anyone had I not read your comment. I confess I sometimes watch over the top things for entertainment like some people like sci fi. Maybe I should try to figure out why anything to do with the east other than a current event or in passing has not held much fascination to me as I'm pretty glued to western culture.
I'm still trying to sort through it all myself here.
They called it the Spanish flu, but I'm not sure where it originated. I would doubt it was bio-engineered, but maybe that was possible or discovered then cultured in a lab then released. How many Germans died from it compared to the rest of the world?
The 1918 flu claimed three of my family members, two not related by blood. They say just about every one at that time lost someone they knew or one or more of their own. One was 18, one was about 38, and the other 41 (I had thought the last two were much older so checked).
Those were tracked down shortly after that report : )
I’ve been reading about this non-stop for some days and from what I gather, they’re talking about vaccinating with the regular seasonal flu vaccine. It was mentioned a number of times in news reports from Mexico.
Like that would do any good.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
