Posted on 08/16/2005 9:31:35 AM PDT by genefromjersey
Bird Flu : Sen. Frist Calls for New “Manhattan Project”
An Influenza epidemic – spread by wild birds-has been building steadily in Asia ,and is beginning to follow bird migration routes into Russia and the “Stans” .
At the moment, it is “just” an epidemic – but it involves a rapidly evolving Avian Influenza virus , that has succeeded in killing pigs, tigers , and a growing number of humans. There is growing evidence of human-to-human transmission : a factor that can turn a local epidemic into a world-wide pandemic.
Should it succeed in becoming a human pandemic – something it is well on the way towards achieving – the estimated death toll worldwide may be as high as 6 billion people !
The vaccines on hand are in short supply – and capable of bestowing only limited immunity : in no small part because the nation where the outbreak began – China – has been trying to cover it up with vaccination programs that leave their livestock symptom-free … but capable of infecting others. They have repeatedly sold this diseased stock to other nations – at attractive discount prices.
The World Health Organization – described by some as never short of money , but always a year late with results – has been promoting the large-scale production of a vaccine that is now so out of date as to be worse than useless: those who take it may be capable of passing along an even more virulent form of the disease.
Senator Frist’s call for action has received very little media attention –and-given the extreme partisanship evident in Washington, is apt to gain very little support.
Given our usual history, it seems likely we will wait until the wolf is at the door-and then we will begin the finger-pointing.
Here’s a link to Dr. Henry Niman – one of America’s foremost virologists. Dr. Niman has been following the gathering storm for a very long time.
http://www.recombinomics.com/News/08140502/ID_Manhattan_Project.html
( I suggest you browse through Dr. Niman’s site. You will find a fair amount of “technical jargon” to navigate around . It won’t kill you., but the flu brewing in Asia just might. )
Here is link for Dr. Niman's site:
http://www.recombinomics.com/News/08140502/ID_Manhattan_Project.html
Oh, that's right - doesn't matter, as evidenced by the Republicans' pork-laden "energy" (Welfare Farmer ethanol subsidies) and "road" (bike trails, visitor centers) bills just passed.
Well, there you have it folks--every human on earth is scheduled to die in a year.
This is needless fear mongering.
Of course, with a new Manhattan project, the world will want the US to pay for it.
You might want to recheck your data.
I am no expert on this, Coexe, but I think you better do a bit more research on this vaccine.
You have been misinformed, I think.
Like I don't have enough crap to worry about already, they just put "West Nile" virus pamphlets in our post office...and I live next to a gulley...
Imagine the crash in home prices - cheap real-estate everwhere ...
The above comments by Senator Bill Frist are welcome. As H5N1 gather speed and begins to spread into Europe (see map) it is clearly time to significantly increase efforts. The initial results on the pandemic vaccine are in, and there is clearly room for improvement. The titers are marginal after two injections of 90 micrograms each. Efforts are being made to try to improve the immunogenicity of the vaccine, but even it it worked well, it is directed against a 2004 H5N1 from Vietnam, and a new version of wild bird flu is rapidly spreading in Europe via migratory birds. The current vaccine will have little effect on this strain, yet it is the only available vaccine, Russia and Hungary are planning trials next month, but there are at least 22 amino acid changes in the HA alone, and the vaccine will be of little use.
The vaccine produced is geared to an older strain, the virus continues to mutate and even when we do come up with an appropriate vaccine it will need to be produced in vast quantities.
Like I said, there is needless fear mongering by the chicken little crowd. No pun intended.
The issue is one of time. Should a pandemic occur this winter or even the next it is far from clear if we will have the time to develop a correctly modified vaccine and mass produce it in sufficient quantities to have a measurable impact.
On the bright side, in the event of a pandemic, almost certainly gasoline prices would plummet both due to direct and indirect demand destruction.
Likewise house prices would plummet as the supply far exceeds demand.
Fortunately Evolution is a lie so I have little to worry about.
On the plus side, it should bring the price of gas down.
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