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WHO Investigates Claims That Swine Flu Resulted From Human Error
Tom DBA writes "Bloomberg reports on claims that the swine flu could have been accidentally made in a lab, which are now being investigated by the World Health Organization. Quoting: 'Adrian Gibbs, 75, who collaborated on research that led to the development of Roche Holding AG's Tamiflu drug, said in an interview today that he intends to publish a report suggesting the new strain may have accidentally evolved in eggs scientists use to grow viruses and drugmakers use to make vaccines. Gibbs said that he came to his conclusion as part of an effort to trace the virus's origins by analyzing its genetic blueprint. ... Gibbs and two colleagues analyzed the publicly available sequences of hundreds of amino acids coded by each of the flu virus's eight genes. ... [The CDC's Nancy Cox says] since researchers don't have samples of swine flu viruses from South America and Africa, where the new strain may have evolved, those regions can't be ruled out as natural sources for the new flu.'"
Time has a related story evaluating the World Health Organization's response to H1N1.
My minions! We are discovered!
We must now shift gears from a swine flu pandemic to sharks! With frickin' LASER BEAMS!
Chas - The one, the only.
THANK GOD!!!
Umbrella Corporation releases an apology saying its really, really sorry for unleashing the pandemic flu on the world. They do however guarantee they are taking the appropriate steps to ensure nothing like this will ever happen again.
Just waiting for a deaf mute, a #1 hit rock star, an unemployed factory worker and a knocked up teen to come out of the woodwork to fight a demon that wears cowboy boots.
Better known as 318230.
I've heard some far out conspiracy theories, but creating a mild flu in a lab and then transported out to Colillacarajo, Mexico? That's just dumb.
You think they'd be so obvious as to release it in a big city such as New York or London? Of course they'd release it in a place where no-one would expect it to be released, like rural Mexico.
Now where's my tin foil hat?
Obligatory nod to the fictional Captain Trips. Welcome to the real world. In other news, I'll be relocating to Boulder shortly...
Blacker than my baby girl's stare. Black like the veil that the muslimina wear. Black like the planet that they fear...
Sheesh, you would think that virologists never watch movies or something.
-1 crazed conspiracy theory
You must be new here. The crazed conspiracy theories are the best part of Slashdot.
Queen takes N1, checkmate.
A Virus of such evil that can make most of the population miserable for about a week. However because of a catchy name, and the few people who did die from it didn't quite fit the normal flu victim profile.
Such a thing must be a human fault for creating such a weapon of mass annoyance. Or... It could just be what happens naturally in the word.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
The people who make Tamiflu released a virus into the wild so people would take Tamiflu . . .
'Viral Marketing'! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viral_marketing
I think I know where the funding for the lab came from!
30 years? Hmmm, that's about 0.000000007% of the age of the earth. I'd say you are qualified.
Not that I disagree with you, but let's face it: one other aspect of being human (in addition to your 'evil' conjecture), is that we believe not what the facts bear out but rather what the facts bear out that reinforces what we already believe.
In my almost 37 years I have realized that virtually nothing is 100% provable, and therefore virtually everything is open to some level of interpretation, depending on the interpreter's level of delusion.
No matter what "facts" are released to the public there will be people on both sides of the argument backing up their respective positions, and there will be nothing to convince them otherwise.
Help fight poverty: Punch a poor person.
Dude, you're Skeletor. You're not gonna be loved. Ever. Feared, maybe. Loathed, definitely. Loved? Keep dreaming.
"Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien on Olog-hai
-1 crazed conspiracy theory
And judging from the title they don't even seem to know WHO does the investigation. Sloppy journalism as well.
May contain traces of nut.
Made from the freshest electrons.
"What the..? This is lemonade! What happened to my culture of amoebic dysentery?"
Welcome to the Panopticon. Used to be a prison, now it's your home.
30 years? Hmmm, that's about 0.000000007% of the age of the earth.
That's .5% of Earth's age! Damn God-less American lies!
The suspense is killing me! WHO Investigates Claims That Swine Flu Resulted From Human Error??
Lab Sr.: Who is on first?
Lab Jr.: No, but I know WHO is investigating us for the swine flu.
Lab Sr.: I must know, tell me who is investigating us?
Lab Jr.: I am telling you, WHO is investigating us.
Lab Sr.: Don't question me, who is investigating us?!
Lab Jr.: WHO is! WHO is investigating us!
Lab Sr.: That's what I am trying to find out, why won't you tell me WHO is investigating us.
Lab Jr.: Nevermind, who is on first?
//Nothing to see here, please move along.
... Then again the collective "wisdom" of Slashdot was 110% certain that the Ipod was going to be a complete flop so I guess that should say something of the level of understanding about reality here.
The average /. user has a deep and comprehensive understanding of the world... of Warcraft. ;)
"Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies."
Yep it was so secret it was painted blue so that it would blend in with the sky.
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.