Excuse me while I deal with this flu pandemic...

[lafolli]

Yesterday, the World Health Organization raised its pandemic alert level to a Phase 4. It doesnt mean that a pandemic is inevitable, but it does mean the likelihood of its happening possibly even this year is much higher. All it requires now is for the virus to begin causing sustained community outbreaks, and the WHO's criteria states that it must

Comments

[grayswan1]

The current version seems to be mild, but (a la 1918) a more deadly version could return in the fall (Octoberish). If you get it now and it gives you some immunity for the killer version, it could be a GOOD thing.

So if you get it LaFolli, let me know. I'm coming over for a kiss. ;-)

[lafolli]

Yeah, my contention is that it is going to reassort yet again. Given the number of other zoontic viruses that are floating around that won't be too hard. Take H5N1, for instance. It's now in Egypt, and so is the swine flu. There was a case the other day in which they couldn't verify how they got it, or rather they can't confirm it wasn't transmitted person to person... Given H5N1's death rate of almost 75%, and given the speed at which swine flu has spread... well, if that happens we're all in trouble.