WHO Can’t Handle the Truth
Now it comes out.
The Indonesian cluster which claimed 8 lives, and that has been grudgingly admitted to have been Human to Human (H2H) transmission by the WHO, has been examined, and a major scientific Journal has announced that there were, in fact, 32 mutations accumulated as it passed from one person to another.
Multiple mutations in Indonesian bird flu strain
LONDON (Reuters) - Multiple mutations have been found in the H5N1 bird flu virus that killed seven family members in Indonesia although scientists are unsure of their significance, a leading science journal said on Thursday.
But researchers believe the findings reinforce the need for bird flu data to be more widely available to improve understanding of the deadly virus.
Well, certainly a different story than was told just a couple of weeks ago, as demonstrated by this article :
Tiny new mutation found in Indonesia in deadly bird flu
Change won't bring pandemic, experts report
Margie Mason
Associated Press
Jun. 24, 2006 12:00 AM
The investigation said the H5N1 mutation occurred in a 10-year-old Indonesian boy who was part of the largest cluster ever reported. The first family victim is believed to have been infected by poultry. She then likely passed it to the boy and five other blood relatives.
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0624birdflu0624.html
In fact, The World Health Organization (WHO), had said in May that there had been no significant mutations in the strain found the in family.
But slowly, the truth comes out.
Sadly, the WHO continues to hold, and keep from the rest of the world, the genetic sequences for many of these virus samples. They pass the buck, and blame the nations where they are gathered, pleading that their hands are tied. But Indonesia has publicly said they have no problem with the genetic sequences being released. They haven’t been asked, apparently, by WHO.
For now, it is unknown how significant these mutations are. Or how they affected the transmissibility of the virus. The only thing we really know is, the WHO has done it’s best to keep these mutations from seeing the light of day.
It appears that the mutations may have led this virus to a dead-end. If so, we got very lucky. But what this does demonstrate is how easily the virus can mutate when it passes from one person to another. The next time, it may hit the right combination, and go pandemic.
There are scientists around the world working on potential vaccines and antivirals for Avian flu. Every day the WHO blockade’s access to these genetic sequences is another day lost in what could be a seminal battle against this virus. Time is running out. The virus never sleeps.
It is long past time for WHO, and our own CDC, to release these sequences. To end the secrecy, and to level with the people of the world about the threat at our door.
While there is still time.
