Posted by Larry Hoover on April 27, 2009, at 16:54:02 [reposted on April 28, 2009, at 2:42:46 | original URL]
In reply to Confused about What Swine Flu Is And Meds To Treat, posted by Phillipa on April 27, 2009, at 13:42:22
Don't worry about the details. Influenza infects birds, pigs, and humans. The influenza virus can swap parts of its genetic structure with other influenza virus particles, to create a kind of hybrid. This hybrid started out being a pig influenza, but it has components from human influenza and bird influenza. Whatever, it's the flu.
It's this ability to mutate that necessitates new vaccines every year. The virus is constantly changing, and once in a while, a new version causes nasty symptoms.
Tamiflu and Relenza are effective, and governments around the world have stockpiles of these drugs for just such an occurrence.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:893207
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20090421/msgs/893212.html