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Biotech / Medical : SARS and Avian Flu -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Maurice Winn who wrote (2702)	10/15/2005 2:53:12 AM
From: Elroy Jetson	Respond to of 4232

The potential mortality and morbidity is really unpredictable. I don't think most people realize how how fast the genetic drift is for these simple viruses. Like the 1918 flu, if this becomes a pandemic, it will change constantly. The 1918 flu would kill 1/3 of one town within a few days, but a week later would sicken most of the next town - leaving no one dead. These viruses replicate really sloppily. They just as easily take in genes from other viruses in place of their own. Its like a giant game of roulette. You never know what you'll get. Thankfullly we don't have to deal with really rapid genetic drift in bacteria and fungi. .