I have a buddy who is a virologist. He sends me shit all the time about bird flu. The gain of function tests on it is wild. Also, note that we have seen this shit coming since 2012
- Fouchier, R.A.M., et al. (2012). “Airborne transmission of influenza A/H5N1 virus between ferrets.”
Published in: Science
Summary: Demonstrated that a small number of mutations could allow H5N1 to spread via respiratory droplets in ferrets.
Link: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1213362
- Herfst, S., et al. (2012). “Airborne transmission of influenza A/H5N1 virus between ferrets.”
Published in: Science (companion to Fouchier’s work)
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22723413/
- Imai, M., et al. (2012). “Experimental adaptation of an influenza H5 HA confers respiratory droplet transmission to a reassortant H5 HA/H1N1 virus in ferrets.”
Published in: Nature
Summary: Kawaoka’s lab showed that reassortment of H5N1 with pandemic H1N1 genes could enable airborne spread in ferrets.
Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/nature10831
- Zhang, Y., et al. (2013). “H5N1 hybrid viruses bearing 2009/H1N1 virus genes transmit in guinea pigs by respiratory droplet.”
Published in: Science
Summary: Chinese researchers found that hybrid viruses combining H5N1 with H1N1 pandemic genes could spread between mammals.
Link: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1243362
- National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) Reports (2012).
Summary: Initially recommended redacting details of GoF studies due to bioterrorism concerns, later reversed.
What is the point of gain of function research? Sounds unwise to devote resources to making deadly diseases deadlier.
I think the idea is that the diseases are likely to become deadlier whether we do research or not, but by experimenting we are able to get ahead of it.
That makes sense. As you might guess, I am not a scientist
I have to say it again, I am not a virologist. I am just a middle-aged peckerwood from South Texas so please don’t take anything I say on the subject of H5N1 as fact. It’s just my understanding of how things work in a field I have very little connection to lol.
Gain of function tests are very controversial. IIRC there were a few SARS-CoV-1 leaks in Asia from GoF tests in 2004 or 05. People use those to argue against them. It can also be argued that GoF tests help us map out what mutations we should be watching for so there will be faster responses when they eventually occur. It can also help to advance vaccine research.
When they are done they destroy the mutated viruses or store nonviable samples in secured labs. The security and precautions, for the most part, keep it safe. Or so we are told lol
In the big picture GoF tests are a drop, what should scare the dick off you is reassortment. That happens on its own in the wild. The hits include H2N2, H3N2, H1N1, and H9N2. IIRC H9N2 is a top donor for internal genes and making it a superstar in the reassortments of all sorts of avian flu.
Good luck
Good luck
Sounds like I’ll need it! Good luck to you too!
Summary: Chinese researchers found that hybrid viruses combining H5N1 with H1N1 pandemic genes could spread between mammals.
That would be bad, as current vaccines against avian flu in humans tent to work on the “H5” part…
I just hope it kills a lot more Nazi antivax idiots this time
Unfortunately, it’s the rich that are feeding them the garbage that’s infested their minds. I don’t think there’s any saving the masses from the delusion they’re slobbering up, but as long as the buffet keeps getting restocked, the pigs will keep fattening up for the slaughter.
Future historians will say that Donald the dumb was a plague spreader.
Im just worried how bad it can get. 90% fatalities to pregnant women, that high. That’s not the COVID 1-2%
don’t forget RFK Jr who suggested that people drink raw milk amidst an H5 breakout
Infected raw milk.
Pasteurized milk is fine.
yes my bad somehow my hand skipped over the raw part
- the case mortality rate is, by far, one of the worst we’ve ever seen for an influenza. https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/wpro---documents/emergency/surveillance/avian-influenza/ai_20250131.pdf
- we already have a vaccine for it https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/H5N1_vaccine
- don’t panic but be educated https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5CyVi4UzKxE
Having a vaccine, and getting it sufficiently wide deployed under a known antivaxxer “health” minister are two different kinds of shoes.
And: The virus is currently trying to overcome species barriers, which might reduce an existing vaccine less useful. AFAIK you need a different vaccine for poultry than for cows, and some infections have made it across to humans, also AFAIK, from cows.
getting it sufficiently wide deployed under a known antivaxxer “health” minister
Not to mention that the asshole in the WH would absolutely weaponize this against blue states and would try to enrich HIMSELF in the process. We know, because that’s what he did during Covid. That’s just how fucking depraved he is.
They initially thought that Covid was killing more of the Blahs…and they of course loved that idea.
Once it takes hold in swine, it’s party time!
If only we had some technology that could replicate the mRna or DNA as things changed to get an updated vaccine out quicker.
Too bad that didn’t work out, killed billions of people, and is now being banned for how awful it was.
Is there is a functional vaccine for it then I want it ASAP.
Time to stop all testing immediately so that there are no cases
The US will end up with the highest fatality ratio than any other country and Trump will still blame Biden and Hillary’s emails
Ugh, do we really need Trump + Pandemic again?
It’s entirely avoidable, if only Trump would have actually learned something from his first term and actually funded research and prevention teams. Sadly, he only has the foresight to see how cutting those programs saves the US Govt. a penny now, and not the wisdom to see how that panny would have been money well spent if it prevented us from having to spend thousands on recovery efforts.
Trump would have actually learned something
That’s physically impossible at this point.
do we really need Trump + Pandemic again
If there were any justice in the universe, he would have died from the virus he unleashed on the world
The fucknut RFK will tell the AmeriKans to drink fish tank cleaner or bleach and shove a UV light down their throats. When this things slams into the USA, Krasnov will continue to fail.
How to prepare for this shit again? I guess I can start by storing some masks, and a lot more food.
Any advice or thoughts? I can work from home fulltime, and grocery deliveries is possible.
My recommendation is to honestly just do what we did during covid. The government likely won’t be enforcing anything this time so we’re probably gonna be on our own. Also I recommend stocking up on things asap. We’re already having supply chain issues and it’s gonna get infinitely worse if or when this pops off.
I live in Norway, so the government will do everything in it’s power to protect its citizens probably. Like it did during COVID.
Theres no supply chain issues here currently either. During COVID pretty much everything was available besides acceptably priced GPUs
Ah I’m American so I’m probably just gonna die lol
If you get the flu just attend the next Trump rally you can find and cough as much as possible
Honestly that’s a good idea
I think so. Spit on your hands and touch all the door handles you can find. Introduce yourself with a handshake to everyone you encounter. Buy a MAGA hat and see if you can get a picture or something with Trump. Turn yourself into a full on bio weapon that exclusively targets fascists.
I’m gonna become a carrier from left 4 dead. I’ll show no symptoms but I’ll get everyone around me infected
Typhoid Mary 2: MAGA Boogaloo
Going to post this as a main comment but two things are true
- the case mortality rate is, by far, one of the worst we’ve ever seen for an influenza. https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/wpro---documents/emergency/surveillance/avian-influenza/ai_20250131.pdf
- we already have a vaccine for it https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/H5N1_vaccine
- don’t panic but be educated https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5CyVi4UzKxE
Thanks, that mortality rate is frighteningly high. Luckily no human to human transmission so far. Hopefully never.
Might be good to have some personal protective equipment in my emergency toolkit, as people would probably go instantly nuts for that if there is a breakout of human to human transmission.
Uh oh… Please don’t tell me I was correct about another pandemic…
How the hell would anyone know
COVID2 Electric Boogaloo
Don’t worry, just inject bleach! It worked last time. /s
I wasn’t expecting my bingo card to fill up so fast.
Well that drinking raw milk is paying off, congrats. Someone should strap RFK Jr to a chair and make him drink gallons of infected raw milk.
Donald and HHS: A1 said fake news. This is Obama’s fault.
