<These projected experiments are to be welcomed for 2 reasons; if
negative, they may allay some of the hysteria associated with recent
predictions of the imminence of a new influenza pandemic, and if
positive, they might facilitate prediction of the likely antigenicity
of avian-human virus hybrids and accelerate rational vaccine design.>
Hysteria? What hysteria? Being calm won't affect the virus. Authorities always want to minimize dangers and avoid hysteria/panic/civil disobedience as though staying calm will keep people alive. Maybe it hasn't occurred to them that panic, fear, hysteria etc are nature's evolved response to dire situations. As you say, the virus is indifferent to the emotional state of the victims and doesn't read the reports of officials.
If a billion people are killed by a bubonic plague equivalent, possibly including the "calm" official, there will be plenty of wailing. Bubonic plague killed about three times that proportion of Europe so it's not beyond the bounds of possibility.
Perhaps the investigations will make them realize just how lethal a new virus might be and they'll be hysterical.
Developing vaccines for all sorts of prospective viruses would be a good thing though. Days, hours and minutes when the catastrophe hits. When, not if. Just as a real tsunami will hit one day, probably around the Pacific Ocean, caused by an incoming bolide such as the Tunguska big bang. It's nuts to live within 10 metres of sea level and even 50 metres isn't much clearance for the less probable events.
Mqurice |
