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Published online 11 November 2009 | Nature 462, 154-157 (2009) | doi:10.1038/462154a
News Feature
Swine flu: One killer virus, three key questions
Nature reports from three laboratories scrutinizing the pandemic flu virus.
As the world mobilizes against the H1N1 flu pandemic, researchers are working to answer pressing questions about the virus. Brendan Maher visited pathologists at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who are looking at how the virus kills, and a New York laboratory that is testing how it spreads.
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excellent article, The focus in these studies for obvious reasons is on the severe respiratory effect of the virus.
Some people develop gastrointestinal symptoms and the numbers may be under reported as Government guidance focuses on fever cough etc. Is it known why the virus attacks the gut in some people and not in others? Is the virus different or is it to do with the person? Does this put a different selection pressure on the virus or offer different opportunities for reassortment?
Am I allowed to say a brand name or comment on something unrelated to H1N1? The "white 'bunny suit' coveralls made from the material used to insulate houses" sounds like Tyvek, which is a barrier, not an insulator. If this material insulated against convective or conductive heat transmission, the wearers would more resemble the Michelin Man.
But this is an excellent, very educational article. Thank you!