This is the first article that specifies that the American who died was a Chinese-American. Most of the cases are Asians--even the ones in Canada. Is it possible for a virus to vector in on an ethnic group?
Theoretically, perhaps...but it would be a real stretch for it to be natural. Frankly it would have to target certain DNA and RNA strands, and we're still reading the map of the human genome, but it is theoretically possible.
> Is it possible for a virus to vector in on an ethnic group?
Sure. There are lots of diseases that affect some genetic
groups more severely than others. Are you supposing that
someone in China was trying to develop a virus that
affected only non-Asians, and it worked in reverse and
escaped the lab?
Here's the most interesting report I've seen all day:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/thrive/2003/mar/16/031609499.html
Key points:
* spread outside China seems to be under control
* China claims it's peaked & people are recovering
* virus suspected (not bacterium, toxin, prion, etc.)
* some flus (not all) ruled out, could be new strain
* H5N1 bird flu specifically ruled out
* hemorragic fevers ruled out (ebola, etc.)
* some recent victims seem to be recovering
And the really wierd one (if China is credible)
* disease seemed to weaken as it passed from person to person.
Another remark today, from a doctor was that this agent
is "presenting" (originating and spreading) exactly as
would be expected for a new natural flu strain.
And I might add that the world IS expecting another
1918-type flu (virulent w/ high mortality) some day.
Tinhats may continue wild speculation however, because
there's a lot that's odd about this. I wouldn't even
necessarily rule out a PRC Bio-Warfare experiment that
got out of control. I would, however, feel comfortable
ruling out an "Andromeda Strain" resulting from their
nascent space program :-)
I remember reading a SiFi short story years ago about a substance which would only kill people and animals with a yellow hue to their skin.
The Chinese scientist on the board then ordered several variants of the chemical and lots of WHITE mice to experiment on.
Any one remember the story?
Do you know of the specifics of this virus? When I was in St. Petersburg, Russia in Jan./Feb. I came down with the strangest virus ever. At night I would go thru an incredible fevers sweating like never before and also suffering from chills. When I would lay down I would have a hard time breathing coughing up much flem. I was very sick for ten days and it took a couple of weeks to recover before I could work again. I wonder if this bug also hit Russia?