Swine / Avian Flu

[Brandan Kraft]

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/20...winefluupdate/

The deadly H1N1 influenza virus that’s fueling fears of a global pandemic is a hybrid of two common pig flu strains, scientists who have studied the disease told Wired.com Tuesday. Earlier reports called it a combination of pig, human and avian influenza strains.
The findings may resolve some uncertainty about the nature of the virus, but much is still unknown about its origins and effects.
“This is what we call a reassortment between two currently circulating pig flu viruses,” said Andrew Rambaut, a University of Edinburgh viral geneticist. “Why it’s emerged in humans is anyone’s guess. It hasn’t been seen before in pigs as far as I know.”

[Brandan Kraft]

Interesting...

The Hong Kong Flu back in 1968 had DNA from different strains....
The Hong Kong Flu was a category 2 flu pandemic caused by a strain of H3N2 descended from H2N2 by antigenic shift, in which genes from multiple subtypes reassorted to form a new virus. This pandemic of 1968 and 1969 killed an estimated one million people worldwide.[5][6][7] The pandemic infected an estimated 500,000 Hong Kong residents, 15% of the population, with a low death rate.[8] In the United States, approximately 33,800 people died.[9]
Both the H2N2 and H3N2 pandemic flu strains contained genes from avian influenza viruses. The new subtypes arose in pigs coinfected with avian and human viruses and were soon transferred to humans. Swine were considered the original “intermediate host” for influenza, because they supported reassortment of divergent subtypes. However, other hosts appear capable of similar coinfection (e.g., many poultry species), and direct transmission of avian viruses to humans is possible. H1N1 may have been transmitted directly from birds to humans (Belshe 2005).[10]
The Hong Kong flu strain shared internal genes and the neuraminidase with the 1957 Asian Flu (H2N2). Accumulated antibodies to the neuraminidase or internal proteins may have resulted in much fewer casualties than most pandemics. However, cross-immunity within and between subtypes of influenza is poorly understood.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H3N2

[Calvinator]

SWINE FLU COMES TO AMERICA

WASHINGTON, DC - The Swine Flu epidemic has reached the United States. This new mutated strand of influenza starts as a normal flu, then turns people into pigs.

The world is in the grip of fear over an outbreak of a new Swine Flu. A previous strain affected pigs by making them grow enormous and vicious. This flu has since mutated, mixing with human and avian viruses, to create a new and more dangerous Swine Flu. This flu begins with typical symptoms, such as sneezing fever and lethargy, but soon makes humans grow larger and more angry. Then, by the first full moon, sufferers turn into mutated pigs!

The Center for Disease Control is looking to contain the outbreak and pictures of its effects. “The biggest threat right now is panic,” said CDC spokesman Thomas Belding. “With proper care, the mutated Swine Flu is treatable.”

Cases of flu-produced werepigs have been confirmed in Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, and the United States. So far 20 cases have been reported total in the US.

Eight New York City school children have been infected. The first symptoms were noticed when the children ate their lunch by diving face first into their plates. This tipped off school officials who reported the children to the CDC. The children were apprehended by government agents at recess, lured into black vans by repeated calls of “Souuuuiiiee, Souuuuiiiieee!!”

Theories suggest that the mutational capacity of this virus may have originated as a government project. Some sources believe that a virus designed to rewrite DNA to create super soldiers was accidentally released and then mixed with other existing influenza viruses; however there is currently no evidence to support such a claim.

Governments around the world are scrambling to stem a global pandemic. EU countries are discouraging non-essential travel to North America, this time for reasons other then being pretentious. The White House is considering a “Leave Room for Jesus” policy on interpersonal proximity in public. Media are being refused access to afflicted areas and hospitals.

I'm eating all the bacon that I can to build up my immunity to this swine flu.

[rlhuckle]

NOT the way to build up one's immunity....

[MCoving]

Hi all! I know long time time since I responded to a thread, I do still read occasionally just dont have the time or energy or back stamina to respond much. That and alot of the threads are things I've seen over the years and already responded to. However, Im still working on trying to get into this all again. So be patient with me, but of course this thread caught my attention. I had looked up some information on swine flu but I didn't know some of this information I've read here. I had no idea it was a man made flu!!! Reminds me of the show Fringe that I watch at times. Hopefully its just something that accidentally escaped from a Lab somewhere and not some terror strike. But boy it has caused a huge uproar in areas and panicked people. Im more calm about it and I not sure why. I mean yeah its scary and no way do I want to get this. And I dont know if death has just been prolonged for people here because of our great hospitals and things available to combat it or if what is used really does lesson the symptoms and people are well within a week just like any other flu. Yet of course sometimes with any other flu there can be complications. So Im not sure which one, but Im thinking its not as BAD as the media and people are saying. Sometimes people blow things out of proportion. Saying that it kills everyone, etc. Least Im hoping that because I have asthma and usually catch colds/flus rather easily. Plus I work in schools!!! And not only that but Im in Oregon!! EEEKK!!! Ya know what that means, lots of Hispanics.

Okay Im not blaming Hispanics but I know some have been down to Mexico recently, and for Spring break. Plus Hillsboro where I sub has lots, Tigard is a bit less which is where I've mostly been subbing. But the other day I was around a lil kindergartner from Mexico and she didn't smell too good. Sometimes I can tell they dont get the hygiene they need, because many are still poor in this area. Its only a matter of time before Oregon sees an outbreak in our schools. I honestly believe it'll happen in the next week... we already have one reported case in downtown Portland, and theres been 6 cases in Washington State. I do hope I dont get it... with my luck I probably would. But I've faced "death" before and its not that scary, I mean its not fun either but we have the hope of God and the hope of eternal life so its not that scary. I would just feel for those I leave behind, ya know? I mean its hard when a loved one dies, someone you really cared about.. you wonder if their in Heaven, you miss talking with them, something feels like its missing in your life... etc. Plus if I get it I have my parents that I live with... man it just wouldn't be good. So lets hope I dont, and how long will this keep spreading??!!! And lets hope none of you do either! Maybe God will protect us all from getting it. I mean honestly though will it ever stop? Sounds like it may like hotter environments and Summer is coming, it pry wont be till Winter that we see this die off. Or will we? Being man made I wonder... the longer it goes on, the more people are infected. Cant contain something like this that well... and ya know some people are stupid they'll go out in public even if they know they have it. Thats just how some people are, like the tv show stupid criminals, makes me laugh though. hehe

Well I better be going. But last Id like to say... even though this is scary and a man made virus most likely. God is the one who has and does control all things, and He is the one who has determined all things to happen. So we know that even this virus is controlled by God, and His Will be done. He is causing all these deaths in Mexico, and other places, and this to continue for a reason. I dont know the reason though but I know and truly believe that for His Children all things work together for our good. So we do not have to fear this virus, our rest and hope is in the Lord, maker of all things! Sovereign over all things, and comforter and healer.

[wildboar]

Every year people die from the flu. In Mexico a lot of people don't have access to adequate healthcare and so it's no surprise that some people would die from the flu. We had a couple of local cases of people who died but there were people who did not have access to healthcare. You're far more likely to die by getting in a car accident after reading about the swine flu than you are to get the swine flu. Yes, it is sad that people died but I think it's getting blown way out of proportion. There really seems to be an inverse relationship between people who die and media coverage. We had the lead toys from China thing where nobody died and it was covered forever. We had the tainted spinach where a few people died with far less coverage. There have been a total of about 300 people worldwide who have died from the swine flu and everyone's going crazy about it. In the U.S. about 115 people die every day from car accidents and you don't hear about it that much. We have about 3000 people that die each day in the US from abortion and that gets zero coverage.

[Brandan Kraft]

The swine flu is not an immediate threat to our health... But give it time to propagate - then it could turn into a plague that wipes out a large portion of the world's population.

[wildboar]

Since the government estimates that about 36,000 people die from the flu each year to begin with and a much smaller number have died from the swine flu, why should I be so concerned about the swine flu? If there is any conspiracy theory involved, I think it may be that swine flu deaths were blown out of proportion in order to get Sabelius approved by scaring people.

[Saint Nicholas]

I'm eating all the bacon that I can to build up my immunity to this swine flu.

I'm with you also! I simply love to eat PORK!

Pork Roasts, Bacon, Pork Chops, Pork Ribs (babyback), Pork neckbones and pigs feet in my Spaghetti sauce, Pork breakfast sausages, Genoa salami, and all the Italian cured meats from pork. Pork is my #1 meat

I have been born and raised on Pork.

And now as a true Jew, I love pork all the more.

Nicholas

[Calvinator]

The swine flu is not an immediate threat to our health... But give it time to propagate - then it could turn into a plague that wipes out a large portion of the world's population.

It is my understanding that the flu epidemic of 1918 started in the spring and it was mild. Then in the fall, during the flu season, it came back with vengeance. The flu shot this fall might be important.

I'm with you also! I simply love to eat PORK!

Pork Roasts, Bacon, Pork Chops, Pork Ribs (babyback), Pork neckbones and pigs feet in my Spaghetti sauce, Pork breakfast sausages, Genoa salami, and all the Italian cured meats from pork. Pork is my #1 meat

I have been born and raised on Pork.

And now as a true Jew, I love pork all the more.

Nicholas

If you were to have lab work done, will they find chunks of bacon in your blood? If so, you could use the swine flu on your food for flavor like salt and pepper and you would be just fine.

[trav]

what about pork rinds?

[wildboar]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB5-Y...layer_embedded