The World Health Organization decided to rename the virus H1N1 to save a host of little piggies out there who were about to meet an untimely end on the butcher's block. Egypt was about to slaughter every pig in the country, about 300,000 in all. That's a lot of bacon to bring home! So now it's the dread H1N1, and not the "Swine Flu."
In the meantime, while new reports of suspected cases crop up by the hour, the LA Times reported that the bug does not appear to be ready for prime time in the Pandemic arena. To quote the Times: "There are certain characteristics, molecular signatures, which this virus lacks," said Peter Palese, a microbiologist and influenza expert at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York. In particular, the swine flu lacks an amino acid that appears to increase the number of virus particles in the lungs and make the disease more deadly."
There is always a possibility that the virus will mix and mutate within its new human hosts but, for now, it appears fairly mild. While media attention on the story has made it seem like it is spreading like wildfire, the actual number of reported cases world wide is fairly low considering the virus has been active for at least a month.
Great news! Now we can go back to worrying about the economy again.
In the meantime, while new reports of suspected cases crop up by the hour, the LA Times reported that the bug does not appear to be ready for prime time in the Pandemic arena. To quote the Times: "There are certain characteristics, molecular signatures, which this virus lacks," said Peter Palese, a microbiologist and influenza expert at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York. In particular, the swine flu lacks an amino acid that appears to increase the number of virus particles in the lungs and make the disease more deadly."
There is always a possibility that the virus will mix and mutate within its new human hosts but, for now, it appears fairly mild. While media attention on the story has made it seem like it is spreading like wildfire, the actual number of reported cases world wide is fairly low considering the virus has been active for at least a month.
Great news! Now we can go back to worrying about the economy again.
