Is This The Long Awaited Pandemic?

[Peter Lemkin]

This one is very suspicious, as it has DNA portions from pigs, birds and humans all together. It could happen naturally, but the odds are slim.

This is what I find quite incredible too. What are the chances of this happening in real life? It's up there with the Crisman - Bannister encounters in queerness.

Again, in the past pandemics have been caused naturally by new flu varieties which usually contained flu DNA from another species that was reproducable within humans. The chances, however of TWO together are very small indeed, but not impossible. If manufactured, there are two possibilities - intentional release and accidental release or manufacture. A good virulogical team should be able to figure out the most likely origins, but it would likely take a half-year's work, maybe less. If a covert operation such a team would be penetrated or otherwise messed with, very likely. In any case it would be well after any pandemic. Biowarfare aside, this is a real and present danger known about in the environmental health field and not well appreciated by the Public. Governments and the Media have generally not wanted to panic the population and/or are themselves not aware of the dangers. Industrial animal farms are part of the problem - there are many others. Our non-Natural ways of life, generally, are producing these freak viruses.

Definition of Avian influenza:

Avian influenza is flu infection in birds. The disease is of concern to humans, who have no immunity against it. The virus that causes this infection in birds can mutate (change) to easily infect humans. Such mutation can start a deadly worldwide epidemic.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Historically, avian influenza viruses infected pigs and mixed with pig influenza viruses. The viruses exchanged genetic information, which led to the formation of a new virus. This new virus could then infect humans and easily spread from person to person. Previous flu pandemics (worldwide epidemics) have started this way.

The first avian influenza virus to infect humans directly occurred in Hong Kong in 1997, during an avian flu epidemic on the island. This outbreak was linked to chickens and classified as avian influenza A (H5N1).

Since the Hong Kong outbreak, the bird flu virus has spread across Asia, and in October 2005 was discovered in poultry in Turkey and Romania. So far, hundreds of people have been infected by H5N1. Many people have died.

The wider the area over which the avian flu virus spreads, the greater the chances of a worldwide outbreak. There is tremendous concern that H5N1 poses an enormous pandemic threat.

Farmers and other people working with poultry, as well as travelers visiting affected countries, have a higher risk for getting the bird flu. Handling an infected bird can cause infection. People who eat raw or undercooked poultry meat are also at an increased risk for avian influenza. Highly infective avian flu viruses, such as H5N1, have been shown to survive in the environment for long periods of time, and infection may be spread simply by touching contaminated surfaces. Birds who recover from the flu can continue to shed the virus in their feces and saliva for as long as 10 days.

Health care workers and household contacts of patients with avian influenza may also be at an increased risk of the bird flu.
Reviewed last on: 11/9/2008
Linda Vorvick, MD, Family Physician, Seattle Site Coordinator, Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
References

US Food and Drug Administration. FDA Approves First U.S. Vaccine for Humans Against the Avian Influenza Virus H5N1. Rockville, MD: National Press Office; April 17, 2007. Release P07-68

Levin S. Zoonoses. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 349.

Hayden FG. Influenza. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 387.