Posted on 10/20/2014 12:22:27 PM PDT by TangledUpInBlue
As alarming as that number of changes may seem, viruses mutate when they replicate all the time. When viruses replicate, which is what they do inside a person they've infected, they make copies of their own genetic material.
When making these genetic copies, RNA viruses like Ebola are "notoriously bad" at doing so accurately, according to Vincent Racaniello, a Professor of Microbiology & Immunology at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons.
"Notoriously bad" here means that they mutate a lot, which can be good for the virus if a change makes the organism better able to survive.
In the case of Ebola viruses, this may explain why different Ebola Zaire outbreaks have had different fatality rates — though many prior outbreaks have been too small to be provide accurate fatality rate data. Dangerous Mutations
Even without going airborne, there are potentially frightening Ebola mutations.
Peter Jahrling, chief scientist at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, recently told Vox that he thinks it's possible that this strain could be more virulent than in the past — that the virus is replicating more rapidly, meaning there are more viral particles in every drop of bodily fluid.
Ebola is already highly infectious — only a tiny amount of virus is needed to catch it, and one-fifth of a teaspoon of blood may already contain 10 billion viral particles. An increased viral load could make transmission even easier, though direct contact with body fluids would still be a necessary condition.
Another scary possibility is that the proteins in the virus recognized by our immune system could change.
(Excerpt) Read more at finance.yahoo.com ...
Don’t worry. Obama has top men working on it right now. Top...men.
All viruses are constantly mutating all the time.
It’s what they do.
Yeah, he’s got a CZAR, not to be confused with a CIGAR.
I got away from them as fast as I could. Too bad, because if the pathogen is really virulent, it's already in the air.
I placing bets with my brother, we all know as usual Obummer is withholding info till after the election....How many you think are really infected? A million or 10 million?
Isn't that kind of odd? AF-1 isn't a pickup taxi. She could fly first class, or even book a private jet for a lot less of our money.
“Mr. Obama is flying Valerie Jarrett back from Chicago on Air Force One.”
It’s only Air Force One, if the President is on board.
Could...if...may...
There are enough legitimate concerns with Ebola, that there is no reason for useless fear mongering.
No, Clinton had one of those. Ask Monica.
Dr. Bob McBroom, a local infectious disease doctor also spoke to reporters about this concern at the TimesRecordNews.com on October 15, 2014, coincidental to the second nurse's confirmed Ebola diagnosis.
Dr Peter Jahrling says amount of virus in patients is higher than expected
Jarrett Doesn’t want to contract ebola, from a regular citizen.
So now, when I watch "The Walking Dead" maybe I can just turn on the news when they are talking about ebola.
Paging Dr Freidan..
Why is there no outrage that zer0 is about to let in millions very soon while this Ebola is now working it’s way into the general population?
A Canadian friend of mine made a great statement.
Winter is great because it kills all the flies.
I think much will change come dead of winter.
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