I've just posted a poll on the subject of Swine Flu on the homepage of the website that I write for if anyone wants to vote...
http://www.brentbrain.org.uk/
It's an A strain.
For insurance purposes it is not classed as A. (according to the newspapers last week)
So how can it be called A?
I love Lou . Sorry Lou, Batnurse said Swine flu is a strain.
So Bird flu is which?
...and what about Stomach flu?
Swine flu is a type A influenza virus. Type A viruses are subdivided into different serotypes, or strains, according to the way antibodies respond to the proteins on their surface. It's called H1N1 because it has type 1 haemagglutinin and type 1 neuraminidase. These are proteins found on the surface of the virus particle. Haemagglutinin helps binding of the virus to the host cell, and neuraminidase is involved in the release of new virus particles from the host cell.
Flu A and B are prone to antigentic drift - minor reassortment of the genome due to spontaneous mutations, caused by the way the virus replicates, and this means that if you get flu one year you can get it the following year because your body doesn't recognise it. Flu A can also undergo antigenic shift - a major change in the genome caused by different strains of virus swapping bits of their genome. The most common way for this to happen is for an animal (usually a pig) to be infected with two different types of flu at the same time. This is why flu A causes pandemics, as it undergoes these massive changes.
Pigs commonly act as a "mixing pot" for viruses as they have receptors on their cells that look like human cell receptors and also receptors that look like bird cell receptors. This means that if a pig is infected by bird flu and human flu at the same time, the viruses can swap bits of genome. The new virus can then be passed on to humans.
"Stomach flu" is a made up name. Influenza virus can only attach to the cells of the respiratory tract, although if someone has a very high temperature they may develop vomiting and diarrhoea as a side effect. "Stomach flu" probably refers to Norovirus, aka the "winter vomiting bug".
Influenza is so called because in the past astrologers linked the positions of the stars with outbreaks of illnesses, this stellar "influence" giving rise to the word influenza. It was, of course, total rubbish!
Phew, science lesson over.
Last edited by batnurse; 27th-June-2009 at 10:29 PM. Reason: adding a picture!
It said in the "Food in History" book that pig's milk is nearest in likeness to human milk.
Also that in 1800's Ireland, a pig's main diet was potatos.Thanks for the explanation.
"Stomach flu" is a made up name. Influenza virus can only attach to the cells of the respiratory tract, although if someone has a very high temperature they may develop vomiting and diarrhoea as a side effect. "Stomach flu" probably refers to Norovirus, aka the "winter vomiting bug".
I was making the point that if animals are kept inside in tiny confined spaces, fed on antibiotics etc., then they will be unhealthy and catch these diseases - Swine flu etc.,
Also that if cattle land was turned over to crop growing (if it's still fertile) more poeple could be fed.
Half the world's population don't get enough to eat.
Nonsense : "The world produces enough food to feed everyone." It is getting it to them that is the problem.
As well as lots of posters about swine flu, we now have (presumably alcohol-based) hand wash dispensers at the entrance of our building.
There's a confirmed case somewhere in the organisation - dunno if it's at my building though.
Love dance, will travel
Harvests do fail though.
In the 70's the Russian, European and African harvests all failed.
Luckily the USA harvest was fine, and other counties were able to buy - if they could afford it.
Next thing though, there was an oil crisis in the Middle East, which was the final straw, which plunged the world into a recession.
Hope thay are not Swine Flu.
The virus seems to first infect the soft tissues in the lungs and throat, and perhaps in the eye, that are in contact with the air. It seems logical that it is spread about the lungs and throat in the first place via the air. It seems logical that an airborne attack would be effective against it. There is indeed an antiviral that is inhaled.
Chlorine and ozone are very reactive and toxic gasses. It seems to me that the virus may well be vulnerable to those. I am wondering if swimming pool attendants and regular swimmers, exposed to chlorine, or arc welders, exposed to ozone, might fare better than the ordinary population against the virus.
There's been some confusion as to the symptoms of Swine Flu, and how you might know if you have been infected.
Well, this should clear up any confusion.
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Swine Flue.jpg
If you wake up looking like this, don't go to work.
eh? but I've always looked like that
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