Bird Flu Redux

[wabmester]

If the virus mutates in such a way that it can drive a car and operate automatic weapons, we'll be in trouble too, but the chances of that happening are pretty small.

Yeah, but it'd be pretty cool.

The mutations are pretty random (combination of replication errors and swapping genes with other viruses). The mutation rates of flu viruses are very high (RNA replication is more error prone than DNA replication). But it's the selective forces that determine which mutations survive. I can't imagine any selective forces that would drive viral evolution towards joy riding in cars.

But, these viruses infect your lungs. We expel matter from our lungs all the time, so there's an easy transmission route. I have no idea why H5N1 isn't easily transmitted from human to human. Maybe it needs a open wound as a point of entry. Maybe it can't survive outside of the body very long. Maybe it infects cells deep in the lung where it isn't easily expelled.

It seems probable to me that it will eventually evolve a means of human-to-human transmission, but I couldn't guess how long that would take or whether that strain will have other mutations that make it less lethal, for example.

 

[SLC Tortfeasor]

H5N1 has now shown up in Romania, presumably carried there by migratory birds. Lovely 

I hadn't heard about Romania, but they found it in Turkey late last week, and today I heard they've also found it in Greece.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9728684/

 

[wabmester]

Here are some tips somebody in the "biz" sent to me.   Nothing really new here, but useful info nonetheless.

The take-away message is not to panic, but to consider rational, comprehensive preparedness and response in the event of a pandemic.
The first thing to do is to pay attention to news reports. The movement of the Bird Flu virus to Europe is important,
but this is far less important than its spread to people. Thus, our antennae must be tuned to human infection and,
particularly, to the first case or cases of person-to-person transmission. If this occurs, certain preventive measures are essential:

1. Minimize travel
2. Avoid crowded places
3. Wash hands with soap and water and use hand sanitizers
4. Eventually, if the outbreak becomes significant and proximate to your area:
a. Wear a protective mask in public
b. Stay at home if possible
c. Keep your children out of school

Even absent a pandemic, simple preparedness measures are in order. Our staff of medical doctors and public health experts recommends that you have a general prevention and preparedness plan for both home and work. Some of the items to consider are:

• Developing a telecommuting plan to encourage ill employees to stay home and prevent transmission of illnesses to the remainder of the workforce
• Acquiring properly-fitting N-95 filtering facepiece respirators for necessary tasks, e.g. Travel, care of sick family members, etc.
• Acquiring and storing an adequate supply of food and water

 

[Nords]

a. Wear a protective mask in public

?!

 

[wabmester]

Hosuc is back!

 

[laurence]

ROTFLMAO! , and to think I'm all out of chianti and fava beans!

 

[wabmester]

Here's one of the best stories I've read so far on H5N1. It even tells you how to decode the name!

Canadian Press

Summary: Don't worry about it unless/until you need to worry about it.

 

[Austin_Explorer]

A timely news story:

http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/10/20/fda.antibacterial.ap/index.html

It starts off with:

Antibacterial soaps and body washes in the household aren't any more effective in reducing illness than regular soap, and could potentially contribute to bacterial resistance to antibiotics...

 

[Nords]

Anyone know what flu type this year's vaccine is designed to prevent?

 

[wabmester]

Anyone know what flu type this year's vaccine is designed to prevent?

The 2005--06 trivalent vaccine virus strains are A/California/7/2004 (H3N2)-like, A/New Caledonia/20/99 (H1N1)-like, and B/Shanghai/361/2002-like antigens.

CDC

 

[Nords]

The 2005--06 trivalent vaccine virus strains are A/California/7/2004 (H3N2)-like, A/New Caledonia/20/99 (H1N1)-like, and B/Shanghai/361/2002-like antigens.

Man, I knew there had to be a reason for today's 90-minute nap. And I wonder if sabumnim will mind if I catch a snooze between sparring rounds tonight...

 

[maddythebeagle]

Some folks are at greater risk and should get their flu shots early this year...