That can't be good...

Dooey Jo · Post by **Dooey Jo** » 2003-03-15 10:46am

http://www.msnbc.com/news/885653.asp?0dm=V11MH

Seems like an ultra-contageous disease for which there is no cure is spreading over the world from Hanoi. A Swedish newspaper wrote that some people in Germany had been infected so I think I'll stay inside for a couple of weeks... Or maybe I should move out into the woods... Or maybe to a big, dark cave, full of bears...

What do you think of all this, and what would you do if a disease like this came to your town?

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2003-03-15 12:41pm

I was going to post this in the OT forum but I guess this place is better.

Yes, it seems that we may be witnessing a totally new pathogen or at least a new strain of an already existing virus that has pneumonia like effects. Perhaps it can be attributed to the avian flu that often circulates around that region.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2003-03-15 12:52pm

http://www.phls.co.uk/press_media/id_bu ... 0221id.htm

Shit, it's the new strain of Influenza it seems, this bastard was long overdue for winter last year since the last strain was around 1998.

The PHLS (Public Health Laboratory Service) in the UK and CDC (Center for Disease Control) in the US have confirmed it as have the WHO it seems.

Strain H5N1 has arisen.

EmperorMing · Post by **EmperorMing** » 2003-03-15 01:16pm

Just great! Another bug to contend with...

So just *how* does a virus jump form one species to another?

Queeb Salaron · Post by **Queeb Salaron** » 2003-03-15 01:25pm

Kinky animal sex. Duh.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2003-03-15 01:43pm

EmperorMing wrote:Just great! Another bug to contend with...

So just *how* does a virus jump form one species to another?

In the case of Influenza, possibly the most advanced killer on the planet second only to HIV, the thing alters its protein coat antigens (think the IFF beacons that planes have in wartime only for viri) practically everytime it replicates.

The bastard is impossible to pindown, no sooner has the populace got used to one epidemic of the virus that could kill hundreds of thousands or millions, then a few months or years later a new strain appears from the older version and does this all over again. It's like continually getting the I Love You virus on your computer even though you keep updating against it, a slightly different version mutates and fucks your system again.

It can also alter the DNA that it affects in organisms, this is effectively how the virus jumps from species-to-species, small changes in the host DNA it targets means that the virus given enough contact with other organisms, may soon adapt to takeover the cellular machinery of other species. HIV is a good example since it was originally a simian only disease which may have adapted to use us as hosts given contact with such animals in Africa.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-03-15 03:32pm

Time to start wearing the bio-hazmat suit around town ...

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2003-03-15 04:11pm

Darth Wong wrote:Time to start wearing the bio-hazmat suit around town ...

Already ahead of you there.

*Switches on HEV suit he nicked off Gordon Freeman*

C'mon virus, do your worst!

*Virus recruits armies of polymer eating bacteria*

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2003-03-15 05:11pm

Man, that sucks.

Montcalm · Post by **Montcalm** » 2003-03-15 05:40pm

I`m wondering is it a natural mutation of the virus or some sick twisted individual made it in a lab

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2003-03-15 06:14pm

Montcalm wrote:I`m wondering is it a natural mutation of the virus or some sick twisted individual made it in a lab

If someone engineered this then good luck to them, it's not only totally bat shit stupid since he/she could easily get it, it's also damn hard to do so and mind numbingly retarded unless you're some anti-life freak,

This, people, is why angst ridden teenagers do not run biotech companies or have access to any real form of weaponry.

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2003-03-15 06:41pm

Dooey Jo wrote:http://www.msnbc.com/news/885653.asp?0dm=V11MH

Seems like an ultra-contageous disease for which there is no cure is spreading over the world from Hanoi. A Swedish newspaper wrote that some people in Germany had been infected so I think I'll stay inside for a couple of weeks... Or maybe I should move out into the woods... Or maybe to a big, dark cave, full of bears...

What do you think of all this, and what would you do if a disease like this came to your town?

"This just in: Doctors have discovered a new disease which has no cure, no symptoms and is highly contageous."

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2003-03-15 06:56pm

Durandal wrote:
Dooey Jo wrote:http://www.msnbc.com/news/885653.asp?0dm=V11MH

Seems like an ultra-contageous disease for which there is no cure is spreading over the world from Hanoi. A Swedish newspaper wrote that some people in Germany had been infected so I think I'll stay inside for a couple of weeks... Or maybe I should move out into the woods... Or maybe to a big, dark cave, full of bears...

What do you think of all this, and what would you do if a disease like this came to your town?
"This just in: Doctors have discovered a new disease which has no cure, no symptoms and is highly contageous."

Now we all know stupidity is pandemic, that's why SD/net exists, to fight off that particular problem.

StarDestroyer.Net BBS

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