UA scientist unravels swine flu mystery: so he thinks

UA scientist unravels swine flu mystery
http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=10325375&nav=14RT

UA scientist helping unravel the mystery of the swine flu

By Barbara Grijalva - bio | email

The number of swine flu cases is on the rise in Pima County.

On Thursday, the official number rose from 10 to 22.

Maricopa County also had more confirmed cases: 35.

Scientists are working to figure out how H1N1, the swine flu virus, works.

They want to know whether it could get worse over time, or just disappear as mysteriously as it appeared.

Scientists around the world have formed a loose collaboration, sharing information as they take the swine flu virus apart, looking at where it came from, what it might do, and if we can protect ourselves from it.

One of the people searching for answers is right here in Tucson, at the University of Arizona.

He's Dr. Michael Worobey.

"The most likely outcome is that it's not going to increase in virulence. It could happen," He says.

Dr. Worobey is a UA Associate Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and that, in a nutshell, is what he has been studying.

It's the evolution of various viruses, everything from the virus that causes AIDS, to the swine flu virus.

The scientists have quickly traced the swine flu's genetic history.

"At the rate that we think it evolves, it looks like it traces back quite a few months and we're getting dates sometime around September of last year," Worobey says.

That means it has been with us a while.

"It could have been just gradually spreading under the radar without being noticed," Worobey says.

The researchers also have learned what combinations of viruses merged to create this flu strain.

"And those kinds of inferences are really important because it tells us, for next time, how we prevent these new viruses from arising," Worobey says.

Worobey also is looking at where the virus might be going.

"We don't really know about how our flu season is going to be next year and whether this new variant is even going to survive to circulate next year. We hope it doesn't," he says.

So it could just fizzle out.

But, in any event, unlike times in human history when flu pandemics killed millions, we have several things on our side now.

"We have a good vaccine pipeline which we didn't have in 1918. We have anti-viral medications and we can actually tell by looking at the gene sequences of this that it's sensitive to most of the drugs we have in our armory," Worobey says.

Still, as Dr. Worobey says, anything can happen, so scientists have to be vigilant.

They can't pinpoint exactly when in its evolution a virus might become more virulent.

Plus, since flu viruses evolve, Worobey says this all will happen again.

"If nothing else this give us a kind of trial run in how to react," he says.

Flu season has just begun south of the equator, and Worobey and other scientists are watching it closely.

Asked how a new flu shot might look next fall, Worobey said it would have the standard three vaccines against influenza "A" and "B," and possibly a fourth, against the swine flu.

That swine flu vaccine is being developed right now.

Views: 59

Comment

You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!

Join 12160 Social Network

Comment by Jeff on May 8, 2009 at 4:39pm
No vaccines for me. I just watched this video and even before watching it I wouldn't have opted for a vaccine. I'm almost 60 and have had enough vaccines in my lifetime.

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

tjdavis posted a video

The Danger of Seeing What Others Don’t - Alan Watts

#alanwatts #empath #psychology #wisdomDo you ever feel like you see too much? In this profound lecture, we explore the experience of the highly perceptive pe...
1 hour ago
Burbia commented on tjdavis's photo
Thumbnail

Reflection

"Let's see if this goes past indictment."
4 hours ago
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post Something Watches From Out there in the Wilderness
"cheeki kea That's very interesting history. So many things about history that go ignored or…"
6 hours ago
Burbia commented on Burbia's video
6 hours ago
Burbia posted a video

Programmed To Kill/Satanic Cover-Up Part 433 (The Charlie Kirk Conspiracy Show)

https://www.programmedtokill.net/projects---- DISCLAIMER! ----Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair u...
6 hours ago
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's photo
Thumbnail

American werewolf- 2018

"Yip I've looked again and this is what the creature looks like, even has stripes just like…"
7 hours ago
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's photo
Thumbnail

American werewolf- 2018

"The mystery continues I guess. ( reminds me of something out of the under world )"
8 hours ago
cheeki kea posted a photo
9 hours ago
cheeki kea commented on Doc Vega's blog post Something Watches From Out there in the Wilderness
"Another fine story Doc V. I think it's Dogman the werewolf out there roaming around in high…"
9 hours ago
Doc Vega posted blog posts
15 hours ago
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post What Four UFO Whistle Blowers All Suffered in Common?
"Less Prone Thanks for you comment Buddy! Dabbling in government kept secrets can cost you dearly. I…"
16 hours ago
Burbia posted a blog post

Sebastion Piñera and 5G

 Sebastion Piñera “The start of the bidding process for the 5G network. Let’s listen to the threats…See More
16 hours ago
tjdavis posted a photo
yesterday
Doc Vega posted a blog post
Thursday
Less Prone left a comment for Tammy
"Welcome"
Thursday
tjdavis posted a video

Mike Benz: DARPA & USAID are Weaponizing Music to Control Human Behavior

Watch every episode ad-free & uncensored on Patreon: https://patreon.com/dannyjonesMike Benz is a former State Department official and current Executive Dire...
Thursday
Tammy is now a member of 12160 Social Network
Tuesday
Less Prone commented on cheeki kea's photo
Thumbnail

The Cartel

"In his 1995 book; Bloodlines of the illuminati, Frits Sringmaier listed the following 13…"
Tuesday
tjdavis posted a photo
Tuesday
tjdavis posted a blog post
Tuesday

© 2025   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted