Swine Flu: Science Races To Parse New Virus

Wall Street Journal:

Avian flu and SARS rudely awoke the world to the possibility of a new pandemic. Could a seemingly more mundane bug now put the world to the test?

The swine flu virus that may have killed more than 80 people in Mexico and appears to have sickened hundreds more is still a mystery contagion. But this much is known: The virus is unusually made up of genetic material from avian, pig and human viruses; it can transmit from person to person; and in many people, it only triggers mild symptoms seen in garden-variety influenza.

Read the whole story: Wall Street Journal

Comments

[Seamus45]

Bio-weapon.

"...made up of genetic material from avian, pig and human viruses"

Think this is the reason for worldwide "concern".

[euthman]

photo

Now that government scientists are culturing the swine flu virus in case vaccine manufacture is necessary, I'm sure we'll be hearing loud protests from the vaccine-ca­uses-autis­m crowd.

(cricket, cricket)

No? Interesting that when there is an actual infectious disease outbreak, the anti-vaccine activists sulk in their tents until the epidemic passes.

[euthman]

Now that givernment scientists are culturing the swine flu virus in case vaccine manufacture is necessary, I'm sure we'll be hearing loud protests from the vaccine-ca­uses-autis­m crowd.

No? Interesting that when there is an actual infectious disease outbreak, the anti-vaccine activists sulk in their tents until the epidemic passes.

[MadLabrador]

My latest web comic is about the whole thing:

http://bit.ly/t9R4D