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Originally Posted by Crys
ummm... hate to break it to you but there've already been over a hundred human deaths from the current bird flu since 2003.
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it sits far enough down in the lungs that it doesn't get coughed into the air as easily so it doesn't seem to spread as quickly as they were fearing.
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Over a hundred human deaths sounds scary, but keep in mind, 36000 people in America die each year from the human flu strains. 360 times as many, just in America, from flu strains that we have vaccines for.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm
Human to Human transmission has not been much of an issue. There are a few suspected cases, but never going more than one generation. According to the CDC "No evidence for genetic reassortment between human and avian influenza A virus genes has been found". Any successful mutation or adaptation of the bird flu to humans will likely reduce its deadly effects or its rate of infection. Viruses are only evolutionarily successful if they keep their host alive, at least long enough to spread the virus further. The ultimate 'goal' of a virus is not to become as deadly as possible, but to be as infectious as possible.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/outbreaks/current.htm
Don't get me wrong, I understand the power of a virus and the damage one can inflict on a civilization. I just don't think we need to get worried over every little bug that crops up.