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Published online 29 April 2009 | Nature 458, 1082-1083 (2009) | doi:10.1038/4581082a
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Swine flu goes global
New influenza virus tests pandemic emergency preparedness.
Researchers are scrambling to study the evolution and spread of the novel H1N1 strain of swine influenza whose leap to humans was officially confirmed last week. The possible imminent onset of a swine-flu pandemic is also testing international preparedness plans put into place to deal with something else: the much-feared H5N1 avian flu virus that has spread across Asia, Europe and Africa since 2003.
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HIV was the first political pandemic wherein vectors of a lethal highly communicable disease were vigorously celebrated rather than heinously quarantined. How well did that work out? Now we have a presumptively lethal highly communicable disease again protected by "no profiling" and rights advocates. How well do you suppose this will work out?
WHO raises pandemic threat level from 4 to 5 (29 Apr 09). Gov't sources: http://www.who.int/en/ http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/ Fast-updating community source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_swine_flu_outbreak
WHO categorically announces that the swine flu pandemic is imminent, causing a host of fear if not intense panic among people (particularly those who went through the SARS scare) in many nations. At the moment, only several cases of death due to the virus have been confirmed. Perhaps it might well be premature to sound the grave warning even though H1N1, much more deadly than any encountered before, can now spread from person to person. Practically all countries are exchanging information in real time and taking serious precautionary measure to arrest the spread. Most important of all, people are vigilant and willing to follow instructions. Should one then live in fear and anguish while waiting for the impending catastrophe? (Tan Boon Tee)
Intranasal cells and tissues play an important role in the generation of local immunity to influenza infections. It has been found that chilling caused a pronounced constriction of the blood vessels in the nose and shuts off the warm blood that supplies the white cells that fight infection so that the onset possibility of common cold symptoms increased, and hot drink provided immediate and sustained relief from symptoms of runny nose, cough, sneezing, sore throat, chilliness and tiredness. Many phenomena and the mechanism of intranasal low intensity laser therapy (ILILT) have been integrated to support the prophylaxis and rehabilitation of ILILT on swine flu in the follwoing topic: http://network.nature.com/groups/homeostasis/forum/topics/4544
"The genetic make-up of this swine flu virus is unlike any that researchers have seen. It is an H1N1 strain that combines a triple assortment first identified in 1998 ? including human, swine and avian influenza ? with two new pig H3N2 virus genes from Eurasia, themselves of recent human origin." How do they know this, anyone has information on the source of this? thanks
I share your consternation. If this were a bacteria, such as a mycobacteria,which also predominate, by the way as viral forms, the explanation would be simple. You have known human, swine and avian forms of mycobacteria. And the two new pig genes of human origin would just be incorporated by mycobacteriophage exchange. But bacteriology to me was always much more easily understood (and with a lot less historical shakiness) than virology.
WHO has recently asked for vaccine producers around the world to put an effort to develop an effective vaccine against the new H1N1 strain. Brazil has promptly agreed with this international consortium through his respected vaccine producer and research institution Butantan´s Institute. However, to do this, viable H1N1 samples are needed but the incomprehensible Brazilian law requires up to two months to clear this type of material trough customs and allow it enter the country. I and surely many scientists in our country think this is not the time or place for debating legal matters and rational decisions are urgently required. We are grateful for any support from the international scientific community in this matter.
People in the U.S. and other developed nations need to calm down and use scientific fact and logic. It's easy to terrorize a generally uninformed populus into sacrificing even more money, resources and individual freedom then they already have. In my area, I've seen a lot of schools and businesses close unnecessarily (before any real facts are in) and lose a lot as a result. In his responsibility as a Vice President, Mr. Biden had no business unduly alarming people with his comments about travel. While, in this case, the science has not yet indicated that lack of hygiene and medical care are major factors in deaths caused by swine flu, these factors should be (and probably are being) rigorously investigated.