CONS: H1N1 Flu: A Tale of Evolution, Economics, Power Politics and International Law.

[pressimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/314ec31af8d3.jpg[/pressimg] H1N1 swine flu caused the 1918 flu pandemic: the same type (A) and strain (H1N1) behind the current crisis, but a different branch or "clade." Classical H1N1 viruses were "virtually the exclusive cause" of swine flu in the U.S. and Canada from 1930 (when they were first isolated) to 1998. Then things changed.

In 1998, a novel triple assortment H1N1 swine flu clade (containing genetic material from human, pig, and bird flu viruses) infected a human in Wisconsin. In 1997, a new triple assortment clade of previously human H3N2 flu appeared in U.S. Mid-West industrial hog barns. In 2001, the 1997 triple assortment H3N2 swine flu clade merged with the classical H1N1 strain to create a novel triple assortment H1N2 swine flu strain. Another triple assortment clade of H1N1 swine flu was isolated from a sick Iowan swine farmer in the 2004 Agricultural Health Study. The study also showed that U.S. farm workers exposed to swine - and their nonswine-exposed spouses - had been infected with H1N1 swine flu.

In fact, triple assortment flu strains and clades have been bouncing back and forth between people, pigs and poultry in U.S. and Canadian industrial hog and poultry barns for about 10 years - bumping into classical H1N1, re-assorting and picking up new genetic material with each re-assortment. This is the situation that led triple assortment H1N1 swine flu to become easily transmissable person-to-person.

Today, several diseases including H1N1 swine flu and H5N1 bird flu are poised to create a lethal pandemic, likely when they meet and re-assort. The pandemic potential has been well-recognized for some time.

In January of 2007, the U.S.A. adopted the World Health Organization (WHO) 2005 International Health Regulations (IHR) for reporting "novel" influenza viruses. Enshrined as International Law, the regulations are "an international legal instrument that governs the roles of the WHO and its member countries in ...sharing information..."

Negotiated to protect corporate rights and industry, and prioritize profits over people, the IHR's pertinent objective is to "...control and provide a public health response to the international spread of disease in ways that are ...restricted to public health risks, and which avoid unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade."

By these terms it is arguably illegal for the WHO, its member nations and their representatives to tell the truth about H1N1, or to disclose that the first triple assortment clade of the H1N1 swine flu strain infected a human in 1998 - in Wisconsin.

"The 1918 flu was an H1N1 flu ..."
Source: Reuters. October 6, 2005. Scientists recreate deadly spanish flu. ABC

"clade - noun Biology - a group of organisms comprising all the evolutionary descendants of a common ancestor. ORIGIN Greek klados ‘branch’."
Source: Compact Oxford English Dictionary. Online

"...Viruses of the classical H1N1 lineage were virtually the exclusive cause of swine influenza (in the United States and Canada) from the time of their initial isolation in 1930 through 1998. Antigenic drift variants of these H1N1 viruses were isolated in 1991-1998, but a much more dramatic antigenic shift occurred with the emergence of H3N2 viruses in 1997-1998. In particular, H3N2 viruses with genes derived from human, swine and avian viruses have become a major cause of swine influenza in North America.
...H1N2 viruses that resulted from reassortment between the triple reassortant H3N2 viruses and classical H1N1 swine viruses have been isolated subsequently from pigs in at least six states."
Source: Virus Res. 2002 May 10;85(2):199-210. The emergence of novel swine influenza viruses in North America. PMID: 12034486

"Since 1998, H3N2 viruses have caused epizootics of respiratory disease in pigs throughout the major swine production regions of the U.S. These outbreaks are remarkable because swine influenza in North America had previously been caused almost exclusively by H1N1 viruses. ...the viruses isolated since 1998 from pigs in the Midwestern U.S. are reassortant viruses containing hemagglutinin, neuraminidase and PB1 polymerase genes from human influenza viruses, matrix, non-structural and nucleoprotein genes from classical swine viruses, and PA and PB2 polymerase genes from avian viruses. The HA proteins of the Midwestern reassortant swine viruses can be differentiated from those of the 1995 lineage of human H3 viruses by 12 amino acid mutations in HA1."
Source: Virus Res. 2000 Jun;68(1):71-85. Genetic characterization of H3N2 influenza viruses isolated from pigs in North America, 1977-1999: evidence for wholly human and reassortant virus genotypes. PMID: 10930664

"...the 1998 isolate, A/Wisconsin/10/98, (an H1N1 swine flu infecting a human), ...was a reassortant that contained a mixture of swine, human, and avian influenza A virus genes.
...Reassortant viruses with human influenza A H3 and N2 surface glycoproteins and internal protein genes of swine, avian and human influenza A viruses were recently isolated in the US from multiple outbreaks of respiratory disease in pigs.
...The genotype of A/Wisconsin/10/98 provides further evidence for reassortment between avian, human and swine influenza A viruses and demonstrates that such reassortant viruses can infect humans."
Source: 1999 Virus Evolution Workshop. Molecular characterization of human influenza A viruses bearing swine-like hemagglutinin genes Abstract

"In 2004, 803 rural Iowans from the Agricultural Health Study were enrolled in a 2-year prospective study of zoonotic influenza transmission. ...swine-exposed participants ...and their nonswine-exposed spouses ...were found to have an increased odds of elevated antibody level to swine influenza (H1N1) virus... ...evidence of occupational swine influenza virus infections was observed (in) ...the isolation of a reassortant swine influenza (H1N1) virus from an ill swine farmer. Study data suggest that swine workers and their nonswine-exposed spouses are at increased risk of zoonotic influenza virus infections."
Source: Emerg Infect Dis. 2007 Dec;13(12):1871-8. Swine workers and swine influenza virus infections. PMID: 18258038

"Since January 2005, H3N2 influenza viruses have been isolated from pigs and turkeys throughout Canada and from a swine farmer and pigs on the same farm in Ontario. These are human/classical swine/avian reassortants similar to viruses that emerged in US pigs in 1998 but with a distinct human-lineage neuraminidase gene."
Source: Emerg Infect Dis. 2006 Jul;12(7):1132-5. Triple reassortant H3N2 influenza A viruses, Canada, 2005. PMID: 16836834

"We report a human case of upper respiratory illness associated with swine influenza A (H1N1) triple reassortant virus infection that occurred during 2005 following exposure to freshly killed pigs.
Complete genomic sequencing of the virus at CDC identified it as a swine influenza A (H1N1) triple reassortant virus, A/Wisconsin/87/2005 H1N1.
Triple reassortant swine influenza viruses (containing genes derived from human, swine, and avian influenza A viruses) have been isolated from swine in the United States since 1998 (9,10), and human infections with swine reassortant viruses have been documented (11–13). ...
Zoonotic infections with swine influenza A viruses are reported sporadically. Triple reassortant swine influenza viruses have been isolated from pigs in the United States since 1998. ...Human infections with swine influenza A viruses occur sporadically in the United States and Canada (1–8)."
Source: Emerg Infect Dis. 2008 September; 14(9): 1470–1472. Human Case of Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Triple Reassortant Virus Infection, Wisconsin Pubmed Central and CDC

"Article 2. The purpose and scope of these Regulations are to prevent, protect against, control and provide a public health response to the international spread of disease in ways that are commensurate with and restricted to public health risks, and which avoid unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade."
Source: 2005 WHO Revision of the International Health Regulations. Pdf Link

"The IHR (2005) are an international legal instrument that governs the roles of the WHO and its member countries in identifying and responding to and sharing information about public health emergencies of international concern.
The updated rules are designed to prevent and protect against the international spread of diseases, while minimizing interference with world travel and trade. The revised regulations add human infections with new influenza strains to the list of conditions that
Member States must immediately report to WHO."
Source: January, 2007 United States Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists Interim Position Statement. Pdf Link

The current pandemic scare is caused by a "type" A flu virus. The "strain," or subtype, is H1N1, which refers to the virus's surface proteins (H for hemagglutinin, N for neuraminidase). The "clade" generally refers to amino acids, and is identified by analyzing the sequenced genome. Triple reassortant swine flu viruses have genetic material from human, swine, and bird flu type A viruses.

The CDC just released the genome for the new H1N1 clade, which was sequenced 2 weeks ago. Virologist Ruben Donis, chief of the molecular virology and vaccines branch at the CDC, confirmed April 30, 2009 that the H1N1 flu virus causing the current outbreaks is "quite similar to viruses that were circulating in the United States and are still circulating in the United States," and is "definitely" swine flu. In addition, isolates from Mexico and the United States are "very, very similar."

"GenBank sequences from 2009 H1N1 influenza outbreak." Link

"Virologist Ruben Donis, chief of the molecular virology and vaccines branch at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, spoke with ScienceInsider at length last night about the swine flu virus causing the current outbreak. ...
Q: What do you know about this swine flu virus?
R.D.: We know it’s quite similar to viruses that were circulating in the United States and are still circulating in the United States ...
Q: Have you completely sequenced this virus?
R.D.: Yes, 2 weeks ago. Very soon after we received specimens from California and Texas. Hemagglutinin, neuraminidase, and matrix, the three genes that have the most public health interest, were sequenced, and then the whole genome was completed. ...
Q: Is it of swine origin?
R.D.: Definitely. ...
Q: Have you been able to compare isolates from Mexico and the United States?
R.D.: Yes, they are very, very similar. Many genes are identical. In the eight or nine viruses we’ve sequenced, there is nothing different. ..."
Source: Science Insider. Exclusive Interview: CDC Head Virus Sleuth
ScienceInsider

So H1N1 flu is indeed a swine flu, and it first evolved in pigs in the USA, not in Mexico.

Similarly, the so-called Spanish Flu responsible for the 1918 H1N1 pandemic did not originate in Spain. The 1918 H1N1 pandemic started in Kansas, at an American military base. Spain was just the first nation to acknowledge the pandemic's existence.

"...In the United States the disease was first observed at Fort Riley, Kansas, United States, on "March 4, 1918,[29] and Queens, New York, on March 11, 1918. In August 1918, a more virulent strain appeared simultaneously in Brest, France, in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and in the U.S. at Boston, Massachusetts. The Allies of World War I came to call it the Spanish flu, primarily because the pandemic received greater press attention after it moved from France to Spain in November 1918. Spain was not involved in the war and had not imposed wartime censorship.[30]"
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 1918 flu pandemic. Wikipedia

"However, a first wave of influenza appeared early in the spring of 1918 in Kansas and in military camps throughout the US."
Source: The Influenza Pandemic of 1918. Stanford

Today's H1N1 flu is descended from the 1918 H1N1 pandemic swine flu strain. Classical H1N1 has been endemic in hogs in the USA and Canada since 1930, at least, in a form relatively benign to people.

"The 1918 flu was an H1N1 flu ..."
Source: Reuters. October 6, 2005. Scientists recreate deadly spanish flu. ABC

"Viruses of the classical H1N1 lineage were virtually the exclusive cause of swine influenza (in the United States and Canada) from the time of their initial isolation in 1930 through 1998."
Source: Virus Res. 2002 May 10;85(2):199-210. The emergence of novel swine influenza viruses in North America. PMID: 12034486

So why not tell the truth?

Because what's really on the table is the profitability of large scale industrial animal husbandry, never mind international travel and other trade. Strategies for passive population reduction are also part of the play of course, but more as an opportunistic sidebar.

Industrial animal husbandry includes hog and poultry barns as well as cattle feedlots. Large scale operations crowd 10's of thousands of animals together, pump them full of antibiotics, antivirals and vaccines to keep them alive, and force-feed them for slaughter to provide meat for our tables.

The practice is defended as "efficient" and economically necessary. Unfortunately, such conditions virtually guarantee the creation of new, and often virulent, diseases. Far more reliably than laboratory petri dishes, industrial animal husbandry operations literally force microbes and viruses to mutate, thereby initiating and accelerating the evolutionary process and creating new diseases. These new diseases sometimes infect people.

The role industrial agricultural practices play in creating human diseases has been known for decades - long enough to determine that current practices are dangerously unsustainable.

However, food is an essential commodity - the market is better than guaranteed, and the profit margin can be amazing. So the world's ruling financiers started controlling our food supply early on, and went for large-scale high-profit industrial food production and animal husbandry.

The problems were clear by the 1970's. First came Rachel Carson's expose; then there was the other swine flu scare; Mad Cow destroyed Britain's cattle industry and devastated other nations' cattle producers too; and the bird flu crisis did the same to poultry producers in Asia. The writing has been on the wall for a good while.

The financiers created a strategy back-when to minimize their risk, and buy time to implement their plan: out with vertical integration, in with risk management. Clever opportunists that they are, the financiers divested their corporate holdings in food production, and focused on food processing and distribution.

Now food is produced, and animals are raised, on contract for the financiers' global corporate processors. Small farmers and independent producers line up for the contracts and their sliver of the pie, and they're holding the bag - if they don't deliver, they don't get paid. It's only a matter of time before it's gameover for the little guys.

But it's not gameover yet. The little guys are still protected by virtue of association, and their role as sidekicks.

International law protects global corporate industry, and overrides national laws. The relevant legal framework involves the interplay between corporate law and the WHO's 2005 International Health Regulations (IHR-2005).

Corporate law mandates that corporations protect profits over all other considerations, including civil rights, human rights and public health. In tandem, the WHO's IHR-2005 regulations specify "The purpose and scope of these Regulations are to ...control and provide a public health response to the international spread of disease in ways that are ...restricted to public health risks, and which avoid unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade." Huh?

So what happens when the appropriate public health response interferes with international traffic and trade? God forbid global corporate expansion?

Well, with respect to the H1N1 flu conflict, the legal argument is simple: "Even though the type A, strain H1N1 triple assortment clade flu virus evolved in the USA, the clade isolated in Mexico is ever so slightly different, so this one's not American. Don't even call it North American. Furthermore, the Mexican triple assortment clade of type A, strain H1N1 flu is being transmitted directly from person-to-person, not from pigs to people; therefor, it is not a swine flu anymore. Don't call it swine flu. The name hurts the pork industry. And don't tell anyone the truth about what's really going on because H1N1's spread can't be contained; it's too late to stop it and there's no point trying; therefor, providing accurate information to the public constitutes pointless and thereby "unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade," which is specifically prohibited under international law. In any event, overpopulation is a significant global issue - a major culling is in order and long overdue."

H1N1 swine flu probably will meet up with H5N1 bird flu or some other bug like SARS or AIDS, and maybe use pigs as a mixing vessel for re-assortment, or maybe not.

"Virologist Ruben Donis, chief of the molecular virology and vaccines branch at the CDC:
Q: What’s the newest part of this strain?
R.D.: Neuraminidase and the matrix are the newest to be seen in North America. They were not part of the team—I talk about flu virus as teams of genes. There are eight players. They have these two new players from Asia.
Q: It suggests a mixing of pigs from North America and Asia.
R.D.: One little detail we haven’t discussed is [that] these Midwestern viruses were exported to Asia. Korea and many countries import from the U.S. ..."
Source: Science Insider. Exclusive Interview: CDC Head Virus Sleuth
ScienceInsider

But however it happens and wherever it jumps, this mild first wave likely will be followed in about 6 months by a deadly strain or clade.

"Q: Flu is a seasonal disease that peaks in winter. ...
R.D.: ...The folks in Buenos Aires are in trouble. They’re entering winter now."
Source: Science Insider. Exclusive Interview: CDC Head Virus Sleuth
ScienceInsider

"...all four of the well-known pandemics seem to have come in waves. The 1918 virus surfaced by March and set in motion a spring and summer wave that hit some communities and skipped others. This first wave was extremely mild, more so even than ordinary influenza: of the 10,313 sailors in the British Grand Fleet who became ill, for example, only four died. But autumn brought a second, more lethal wave, which was followed by a less severe third wave in early 1919."
Source: New York Times. Where Will the Swine Flu Go Next? NYT

"Even if the expected influenza pandemic did not start yet, there is no doubt about the comeback of the lethal virus: The first Pandemic Influenza occurred in three waves in the United States - exactly 90 years ago, between 1918 and 1919."
Source: Deadly Mutation: Swine Flu Virus H1N1 resistant to major drugs
www.lifegen.de...

After the plague, the world's population will be dramatically reduced, and those left alive will be under-informed, traumatized and compliant. The Bilderbergs and eugenicists will be satisfied, and well-positioned to continue ruling the world.

In any event, the time, and our ability, to stop the train passed long ago when corporate rights were enshrined under international law to supersede civil and human rights, and to override our right and responsibility to protect public health.

"Shouldn't we expect that the rich and powerful organise things in their own interests?"

Source: BBC. Bilderberg BBC

ALSO SEE:

ieeexplore.ieee.org...
en.wikipedia.org...
www.prisonplanet.com...
www.prisonplanet.com...
primebuzz.kcstar.com.../6166
www.infowars.com...
infowars-shop.stores.yahoo.net...


On AboveTopSecret.com

Swine Flu Discussion Topics Overview
Swine Flu New Topics Firehose
Swine Flu News and Updates Thread

Spin and Counterspin: New Bird Flu Mutation has 91% Fatality Rate in Humans
Biotechnology Company Provided Advance Warning of Mexican H1N1 "Swine Flu" Virus Outbrea
Swine Flu is nothing new.... H1N1 has been around for ages!
The Global Agenda, Eugenics, Global Warming, And Biochiping









Copyright 2009 by ATS member Soficrow and AboveTopSecret.com, all rights reserved, may not be reproduced for commercial purposes without expressed written permission of The Above Network, LLC.





[edit on 4-5-2009 by soficrow]

The CDC just released the genome for the new H1N1 clade, which was sequenced 2 weeks ago. Virologist Ruben Donis, chief of the molecular virology and vaccines branch at the CDC, confirmed April 30, 2009 that the H1N1 flu virus causing the current outbreaks is "quite similar to viruses that were circulating in the United States and are still circulating in the United States," and is "definitely" swine flu. In addition, isolates from Mexico and the United States are "very, very similar."

This does not surprise me at all. I suspected this, as many, many people I know have had a flu since January that was far different and much more serious than any they have experienced before.

Thanks for a great article.

Great post! You beat me to it. I was compiling the information for my thread just before I saw this one!

Thank you for including the other types of Swine Flu.

It is highly doubtful that the outbreak in Mexico is just one type, the H1N1 strain, of flu. After researching over the last few days I have come to believe that there are at least 2 strains running around in the country, one that is mild and the other that is causing the deaths.

Most likely this is just the beginning of the outbreak. As with the 1918 outbreak, the first was mild and died down fast. Then when the soldiers who had been sick before started to travel because of WWI, they spread the disease and it mutated. We will most likely see this virus mutate over the coming year into a far more efficient killer, probably mixing with the H3N2 strain or even the H5N1 strain.

Then there will be panic.

reply to post by soficrow


This is an excellent report that can be used to help all the sheeple wake up from there TV sleep............I have many family members and this will be part of my ammo to shake them up

Good research!!! I'll refer people to this thread when they want to learn more!

A second line just to express how happy I am with this article

Nice post mate!

If nations really wanted to protect their citizens from pandemics, they would halt all air traffic and international commerce. Nice to know our human lives rate second to rabid capitalism.

To all those that think capitalism is the 'be all to end all', and that socialism/communism are the true evils; it's time you took stock, and a hard look at yourself in the mirror.

S&F!

IRM

[edit on 4/5/09 by InfaRedMan]

Great work, very detailed and appreciated.

How sad that those of us here at ats are well aware the money makers and shakers are calling the shots, manipulating the numbers, and worried about pork exportation. Great, very helpful thanks PTB.

Soficrow, awesome job. You always present such amazing evidence. I'm so glad that you brought some light onto this topic!

Great, great job.

Now that people here know how the Elitist work I bet nothing is done about standing together and making all them pay for there greed because that might be to Witch Hunty.

I could be wrong only going by what I observe

Of all the threads dealing with the "flu" situation yours is the most informative, insightful, accurate and clear. I can't thank you enough for putting all the dots together without bias. Life is good. It could be better, but it is still good. Thank you. S & F.

Magnificent piece of research and personal touch, I truly has missed your great work in relation to the various issues with pandemic.

Now people that remember all your past great work can see for themselves that you were right on the spot on what was going on with this viruses and its various mutations, even when then many saw it as nothing but conspiracies.

I am glad you are back again and thanks for this great thread

Right now is to much misinformation with too much sensationalism on the various threads in ATS for me to take my time with them.

Well now the first three cases has been found in my state, in Atlanta but they are linked to immigrants.


[edit on 4-5-2009 by marg6043]

Thank you everyone. Much appreciated.

Here are a few more links.

WHO warns of swine flu second wave. ABC

** well worth reading/scanning** H1N1 flu virus link to USA pig industry Greger

** worth reading/scanning** The Path of a Pandemic Garret

United States H1N1 With Tamflu and Adamantane Resistance Niman
Recombinomics Commentary 19:03
January 16, 2009

Tamiflu Resistant H1N1 Vaccine Failures Raise Concerns Niman
Recombinomics Commentary 16:53
March 24, 2009


oops. bad link

[edit on 4-5-2009 by soficrow]

Fantastic read, well researched and put together piece

"After the plague, the world's population will be dramatically reduced, and those left alive will be under-informed, traumatized and compliant. The Bilderbergs and eugenicists will be satisfied, and well-positioned to continue ruling the world."

Could you expand some more on the above?

I would be very interested to read your views on where this is heading in greater detail.

Cheers.

Ah... now there's some good old fashioned post writing on ATS like we haven't seen in a while.

Nice work and I agree about the corporate angle. Our animal husbandry practises are atrocious and causing us myriad of problems but nobody is going to do anything about it. Profit over people trumps all these days.

Nice to see you back Sofi.
.

Amazing work on the article. Very informative.

I've sent this out to quite a few people already and will continue to do so.

Thank you also for all the research!

It is like crying wolf. Get everyone concerned with a false cry only to "shock" everyone later with the real deal. Time and possibly an unforeseen occurrence may thwart it a bit. We'll see!

reply to post by Gools


No only that but now that they got into our produces with the Monsanto engineer crops and crap they are putting together we are at risk more than ever as our bodies has been manipulated without our consent from all this corporate fat rats.

I wonder if the people involved into all this feed themselves and their family the crap that they feed to the rest of the people in the US and around the world.

reply to post by soficrow


As always, a terrific article soficrow!
Strange how the first outbreaks were on US military bases...

The Bilderbergs and eugenicists will be satisfied, and well-positioned to continue ruling the world.

Any comments as to how they might protect themselves from these viruses?

reply to post by soficrow


A most worthy thread and much more than we could have ever expected from the MSM. Nicely done.

I expect that there is still a bit more to this story, especially in the arena of industrialized commercial emergency 'management' - but I'm sure we will see more of your excellent research as the thread ages.

Were it in my purview, I would suggest this be required reading for everyone following this story.

you put the Premium in ATS Premium....

Don't let go, the story doesn't end here!

Starred and Flagged! ((and DUGG))

[edit on 4-5-2009 by Maxmars]

Originally posted by InfaRedMan
Nice post mate!

If nations really wanted to protect their citizens from pandemics, they would halt all air traffic and international commerce. Nice to know our human lives rate second to rabid capitalism.

To all those that think capitalism is the 'be all to end all', and that socialism/communism are the true evils; it's time you took stock, and a hard look at yourself in the mirror.

S&F!
IRM
[edit on 4/5/09 by InfaRedMan]

Without international commerce you would be dead, New York city with around 9 million citizens have enough food for 3 days, all food is shipped in daily from all around the globe. That's how things work these days, its a global market, global capitalism, money flow, goods flow, services flow, knowledge flow (virus of the mind), people flow (virus of the body).

I think the internet is a good analogy, you dont quarantine a top domain becasue there is a virus maker active in that particular country, it would be silly since the net is distributed. Data will find its way around anyway and so will the attached virus, thus infecting systems and code all around the globe.


[edit on 2009/5/4 by reugen]