I think it puts our world at great risk. We have the risk of natural spillover
they are literally telling us we are creating the next pandemic
Gain of function research on any dangerous pathogen should be severely restricted and monitored! However, human spread of “bird flu” is NOT new. We already have “natural spillover.” If you look at my “About” page you will see that in 2006 I posted an article at FR about spread of bird flu in parts of Eurasia. It appeared that Saddam Hussein’s destruction of the Iraq Marshes had destroyed an important resting and restoration spot in the annual migration route of many kinds of birds traveling from Africa to southern Europe and Central Asia. Thus unhealthy birds were arriving there, giving illnesses to local birds, which were then transmitted to humans in contact with those birds. I think that common farmhold birds like ducks and geese were mentioned as specific conduits of infection. Fortunately, at that time, not many human cases were being reported.
It seems that partial restoration of the Iraq Marshes has been done, but probably more is needed. Also we need to stop destroying other important resting places of migratory species, whether by design, carelessness, or global warming changes. No only are migratory birds being affected, but pathogenic mosquitoes are expanding their ranges from the tropics into the United States. Bird “flu” illness is not the only pandemic type illness we can look forward to. There are malaria, dengue, West Nile virus and others to anticipate. Probably with enthusiasm by Big Pharma.
I would like to say something about ACE-2 and preventing Covid and other illnesses from fully developing. In addition to being in the lungs, the ACE-2s are in the nose where their job is to stop “bugs” from reaching the lungs. Therefore breathing through the nose rather than the mouth is a health preserving practice. Unfortunately I am allergic to several common respiratory allergens. Thus, starting 50 years ago, I began taking daily higher doses of Vitamin C to keep my nasal passages open. Currently at age 85 it is around 6 or 7 grams of Vit. C a day. Several times since Covid hit the world I have developed a severe running of the nose, almost watery mucus, after being in a crowded public situations. For this nose flood I immediately started taking 1 gram C every 2 or 3 hours in addition to my usual 2 gm in the morning and at bedtime. In each case after 24 hours and 12 to 14 total grams of C, my nose was completely clear and I was healthy. I suspect I was combatting Covid or the flu successfully. I also have been taking an array of supplements for the past 50 years, adding some successfully as new physical symptoms of aging have appeared.
Dr. Robert Cathcart (Google him, please!!) has suggested that even completely healthy people should consume 4 grams of C daily. His 10,000 “anecdotal” cases of successful treatment of a wide variety of illnesses have used as much as 100 to 200 grams of C daily. A 2021 study in Turkey found that for Covid treatment, the precise Zelenko protocol saved lives, and the addition of 24 grams IV Vitamin C to half the subjects for several days reduced hospital stays by an average of 3 WEEKS.