According to this article, the new outbreak is--- and isn't--- closely related to the 1918 pandemic. In '18 the virulence genes appeared to be
stronger than the current strain, with the majority of mortality coming from post-viral bacterial pneumonia. Apparently the morality rate of the
current outbreak doesn't meet the same numbers as the '18 event (according to the authors), but they also stated that this H1N1 is as novel, and
with the human and avian components, the prevalence of H5N1 internationally, and the rapidity of world travel, some expect a more severe, less
straightforward outbreak.
This site has a lot ofinteresting perspectives and articles on the flu- take them all cum grano-
www.cbc.ca...
According to new research by Laurie Garrett, Patient Zero was a child in Wisconsin in 2005, who got H1N1 from his pig farm, it circulated, mutated and
made him ill. Sequencing shows it's the same strain in Mexico and the US and Canada now, but with RNA stowaways (Newsweek, 18 May 2009). Seems to
me that the Us and Canada gave the infection to Mexico, and not the other way around.
Here's hoping the virus does not pick up any more virulence genes, and keeps a lower death rate than we fear. But we'll only know when TRUE numbers
are reported, of those who are infected, and those who die or recover. Only then will we know whether or not the strain is weakening or
strengthening.
[edit on 12-5-2009 by CultureD]