Is this a Designer flu?

[Guest guest]

Is This a Designer Flu?

Eve Hillary April 27, 2009

While doctor’s surgeries are already packed with Australians wanting

flu vaccines for the oncoming winter flu season, another generation of

flu virus is spreading to the Pacific region from the epicentre of

Mexico City.

The ‘swine flu’ virus, discovered yesterday in samples from a number

of New Zealand youths returning from Mexico may already be in

Australia according to virologist Alan Hampson.

The bizarre new flu virus contains genes from human, swine and bird

influenza viruses, including a bridge that allows it to jump the

species barrier. " We haven't seen this strain before " , said Dr

Schuchat from the CDC.

The designer properties of the virulent swine flu strain has many

wondering how it came about. In March the Canadian Press reported on

a batch of vaccination products shipped from Baxter, a US vaccine

manufacturer to Austria, destined for use in human flu vaccinations in

Germany and Eastern Europe. The product came under suspicion after a

subcontractor in the Czech Republic inoculated ferrets with the

product and all of them died. Employees were alarmed by the material’s

unusual properties, since unrelated species should not have died from

exposure to human flu viruses. Subsequent tests on the material

revealed the presence of live H5N1 avian flu viruses.

Since then experts have warned that live animal viruses from vaccine

batches can become recombined inside humans, who may unwittingly serve

as an incubator for a virulent hybrid virus such as the one causing

the Mexican outbreak. Some Australian health watchdogs are concerned

that the avian flu vaccine trials conducted on Australians in

Melbourne last year, could potentially introduce new viruses into the

general population.

Just days after the swine flu outbreak in Mexico, Bona, a

Spokesman from Baxter in Illinois stated, “Baxter has patented

technology that allows the company to develop vaccines in half the

time it usually takes - about 13 weeks instead of 26.” This left

many health advocates wondering why the company is able to provide a

vaccine so quickly to a previously unknown hybrid combination virus

consisting of three species.

Meryl Dorey, spokesperson for the Australian Vaccination Network

called on Australian health officials to urgently test components of

all flu vaccines given to Australians.

The World Health Organisation has confirmed that ordinary flu

vaccinations are not effective against the new ‘swine’ flu.

Australian natural health practitioners have urged Australians to

stock up on immune boosting supplements such as vitamin C, Echinacea,

garlic, golden seal, and other known immune boosting supplements; as

well as extra food and water in the event of quarantine.

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