Calm before storm: "Swine flu" resembles 1918 Spanish Flu

[Electro]

Which caused in the death of 50 million people worldwide between 1918 and 1920.

Study: Swine flu resembles feared 1918 flu - Swine flu- msnbc.com

WASHINGTON - The new H1N1 influenza virus bears a disturbing resemblance to the virus strain that caused the 1918 flu pandemic, with a greater ability to infect the lungs than common seasonal flu viruses, researchers reported on Monday.

Tests in several animals confirmed other studies that have shown the new swine flu strain can spread beyond the upper respiratory tract to go deep into the lungs — making it more likely to cause pneumonia, the international team said.

In addition, they found that people who survived the 1918 pandemic seem to have extra immune protection against the virus, again confirming the work of other researchers.

"When we conducted the experiments in ferrets and monkeys, the seasonal virus did not replicate in the lungs," said Yoshihiro Kawaoka of the University of Wisconsin, who led the study.

The H1N1 virus replicates significantly better in the lungs."

Separately, a top official at the World Health Organization said Monday a fully licensed swine flu vaccine might not be available until the end of the year [too late]. The report could affect many countries' vaccination plans [surprise, surprise: trust the health authorities and "experts" - not].

[stewiegriffin]

"The H1N1 virus replicates significantly better in the lungs."

Not if I swamp it with ganja and john player blue it bloody well wont .

[sarahj]

"The H1N1 virus replicates significantly better in the lungs."

Not if I swamp it with ganja and john player blue it bloody well wont .

Tut - I wish I hadn't pos-repped you for your previous comment coz this one deserves a pos-rep much more!

[Wakeupcall]

Ganja is anti-inflammitory which is great to fight the flue, especially in MEN who are more susceptible than women... Smoking it is not a good idea. Eat it if you want to fend off the flu.

Smoking generally increases your chances of infection by 6 times

I am a smoker but moved back to the mountain recently with noone else around me for miles, big freezer, wireless broadband and a fantastically performing internet business as of late. Once I feel the swine flu hitting Ireland harder I am leaving the day job and staying up there until it passes........

[Aindriu]

The main difference being that Spanish Flu in 1918 had the trenches of WW1 to incubate in. We don't have that thankfully.

[stewiegriffin]

"Ganja is anti-inflammitory... Smoking it is not a good idea. Eat it if you want to fend off the flu.

Smoking generally increases your chances of infection by 6 times "




Aw . I guess your also going to tell me that copius amounts of vodka wont kill the germs either ? Still I will persevere with my theory . I owe it to science .

[seabhcan]

Which caused in the death of one-third of the population of Europe between 1918 and 1920.

1/3 of the population of Europe!!! No it didn't.

It killed 50 million worldwide, probably. There are 800m people in Europe.

[mccafferty cat]

The mortality rate of the Swine Flu has been extremely low to date. There is no reason to think this is about to suddenly change

[Wakeupcall]

The mortality rate of the Swine Flu has been extremely low to date. There is no reason to think this is about to suddenly change

It killed its first healthy victim, a GP, in the UK a few days ago. Keep up.

[odie1kanobe]

It killed its first healthy victim, a GP, in the UK a few days ago. Keep up.

Nope it was a young girl in Essex, GP followed later.

London is viewed as Swine flu central at the moment and best avoided.