Uncontrollable nature

A documentary screened last night on Foreign Correspondent (ABC TV) reported that America had funded the research of a number of laboratories worldwide into H5N1 (avian flu virus). Currently bird flu may only be transmitted if an individual actually eats poultry meat containing the virus, but researchers wanted to prove that if H5N1 mutates it will change from its existing form into a virus that may be transmitted from human to human. They managed to develop a mutated virus that COULD be transmitted from human to human via coughing and sneezing (the usual way that influenza is transmitted). Currently this super bug is kept safely locked away in a laboratory, but the question remains, what happens if the virus escapes? The prime concern, was that most researchers publish their findings in scientific journals and the developers of this super bug wanted to be able to publish their research, which includes actual instructions on how to sequence the virus, leaving open opportunities for mad scientists to make the virus themselves, unregulated by any authority. I agree that given further research usually bounces off the research of others, then the development of such viruses is necessary for science to further its knowledge. Worse case scenario is that the virus will escape, that a mad scientist will use the virus for biological warfare and the virus will kill millions of people worldwide. Best case scenario is that scientists will continue to do research into dangerous viruses and develop vaccines to protect the world population. In the meantime our 2012 vaccine in Australia will contain: A (H1N1): an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1) - like strain, A (H3N2): an A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2) - like strain and B: a B/Brisbane/60/2008 - like strain, which are basically variants of the Swine Flu virus and basically the same composition of last year's flu vaccine.

As I was writing this I was thinking about how 'we' always catastrophize! In the late 80s everyone was worried about AIDS destroying the world (well, their known world anyway), then after 9/11 everyone was worried about terrorists and terrorism destroying our lives (many still are). Dangerous virus and biological war fare scares have been around for a while now and continue to inflame many people's fears about uncontrollable nature. Having said that, dawn is about to break over beautiful uptown Hawthorn. She spreads herself in sumptuous orange and pink allure across the grayish blue sky. The day has begun.