Bigger, Badder Bird Flu...Brought to You by the US Government

[McCamy Taylor]

At a time when regular old flu is sickening millions--and killing hundreds--- in this country, you would think that our government would have better ways to spend its money. Like, maybe getting more people vaccinated. Sounds sensible, right? Too bad the US government is seldom sensible when it comes to public health. Small pox would be eradicated, if not for the fact that our government keeps a stockpile of the virus "just in case". And now, it wants to add a new bug to its germ warfare arsenal.

Bird flu is very, very dangerous to humans. Half of those infected die. The only thing that keeps the virus from causing another 1918 type pandemic is the fact that people usually have to come into contact with infected birds to catch it. The human to human transmission rate is very low. So, if you are not a poultry worker, your risk of catching bird flu is just about zero---

For now. But if our government has its way, a new, improved bird flu may be coming to an elementary school near you in the near future. Because the moratorium on the engineering a bird flu virus that can be passed from person to person has just been lifted.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/24/health/research-on-deadly-bird-flu-to-resume-after-safety-debate.html?ref=health

Now, a stock market tip. If a company manages to come up with a more infectious form of bird flu AND a vaccine to prevent it, I suggest buying lots of its stock. Because I can guarantee that a big "oops" will happen and suddenly everyone on earth is going to be screaming for that vaccine in order to avert a very nasty case of death. Oh, and Tamiflu stock will soar, too. Does Donald Rumsfeld still own that patent?

[sharp_stick]

1. Smallpox

is also kept on hand in several labs in the former Soviet Union.

The majority of the research being done on bird flu is being done in the Netherlands and the moratorium was voluntary. I'm not sure how you blame the US government for research going on there.

The key to be taken from the article is:

"But the United States, which pays for much of the flu research both at home and abroad, has not yet released new guidelines. So scientists here will not be able to resume experiments yet, nor will those in other countries who depend on grant money from the United States."