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Killer Virus 'From Paramyxoviridae Family'

Posted by timothy on from the bad-family dept.

texchanchan writes "Yahoo story about the microbe that's been killing world travelers being isolated and identified as a 'paramyxoviridae' virus (not a bacterium. Simple page on the difference.) Here are pictures of similar viruses (Rinderpest, ugh! sounds as bad as anthrax) from the Big Picture Book of Viruses."

1 of 45 comments (clear)

  1. Hmm... by smoondog · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Well, I think that, assuming most of the reports are true, the world may be able to breathe a collective (but cautious) sigh of relief. (knock on wood) It isn't influenza. This is good. It doesn't spread through the air/casual contact. This, too, is good. I know for a fact (through collaborators) that the CDC is really, really focused on this right now. Finally, WHO is suggesting that this won't be a global pandemic. This is very good. It also seems that, according to the news, a few people are recovering. I'm really, really impressed at how focused the international health community can be, even when separated by political boundaries and vast geographical boundaries. Lets hope they keep up the pressure to keep this contained.

    Could you imagine an influenza strain that spreads through the air and causes chronic lung damage (and lots of deaths)? That would be devastating.

    Anyway, here is the ultimate of Karma whoring: The Google News link for the story

    -Sean