We already have it off that the deadly H5N1 avian flu isonly one stabilizing mutation away from being able to spread to human being . But as society nervously anticipates a potential pandemic , we get disturbing word that a unlike variant of the flu , the equally ominous H3N8 , has successfully made the leap from shuttlecock to seals .
https://gizmodo.com/nature-goes-ahead-and-publishes-study-explaining-how-to-5907096
As scientist scramble to fix if the new virus poses a terror to man , others propose this is a safe opportunity to study an epidemic in progress , to aid us prepare for the Big One .
And indeed , the feast of the flu to seals provide a real - living model of what scientists have been predicting could happen with H5N1 . Last fall , 162 utter harbour seal pups washed up on the shore of New Hampshire and Massachusetts . psychoanalysis of the utter sealskin indicate that they had been killed by a virus that was spreading from seal to seal — proof that the bird flu had mutated into something Modern .
The interrogative now is , does this influenza pose a threat to humans ? write in the New York Times , Carl Zimmerexplores the possibility :
A new line that can spread among seals is a reason for serious concern , Dr. [ Simon ] Anthony said . “ What we fear is that it would allow the virus to prevail within the seal universe , ” he said . “ And if it persists , who know what other changes may accumulate over meter ? ”
“ If it adapts better to mammal hosts , it may well start to move into human beings , ” Dr. Lipkin said . “ This is distinctly a virus for which we need some surveillance . ”
Pigs , Dr. Lipkin noted , are especially good at grow young grippe melodic phrase because they can be infect by bird flu and mammal flu at the same time . Two kinds of virus can meld , impart ascension to fresh hybrid strain .
Dr. Lipkin and his colleagues feel evidence that seal mobile phone can also be intrude on by both variety of virus – raising the possibility that they could produce new intercrossed influenza nisus as well .
“ It could be the equivalent of an aquatic grunter , ” Dr. Lipkin said .
Dr. Holmes desire to see more evidence for the idea that flu viruses can desegregate in seals . He also point out that H3N8 has never traverse from weenie or horses to people .
“ Just because we find a Navy SEAL with mammal - conform H3N8 does not signify we ’re going to get a human pandemic , ” Dr. Holmes said . “ At the second , it ’s hard to say what the threat really is . ”
Read all of Zimmer ’s articlehere .
Image via wim claes / Shutterstock.com .
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