this post was submitted on 03 May 2025
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[–] SarcasticMan@lemmy.world 83 points 1 day ago (3 children)

I have a buddy who is a virologist. He sends me shit all the time about bird flu. The gain of function tests on it is wild. Also, note that we have seen this shit coming since 2012

  1. Fouchier, R.A.M., et al. (2012). "Airborne transmission of influenza A/H5N1 virus between ferrets."

Published in: Science

Summary: Demonstrated that a small number of mutations could allow H5N1 to spread via respiratory droplets in ferrets.

Link: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1213362

  1. Herfst, S., et al. (2012). "Airborne transmission of influenza A/H5N1 virus between ferrets."

Published in: Science (companion to Fouchier’s work)

Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22723413/

  1. Imai, M., et al. (2012). "Experimental adaptation of an influenza H5 HA confers respiratory droplet transmission to a reassortant H5 HA/H1N1 virus in ferrets."

Published in: Nature

Summary: Kawaoka’s lab showed that reassortment of H5N1 with pandemic H1N1 genes could enable airborne spread in ferrets.

Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/nature10831

  1. Zhang, Y., et al. (2013). "H5N1 hybrid viruses bearing 2009/H1N1 virus genes transmit in guinea pigs by respiratory droplet."

Published in: Science

Summary: Chinese researchers found that hybrid viruses combining H5N1 with H1N1 pandemic genes could spread between mammals.

Link: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1243362

  1. National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) Reports (2012).

Summary: Initially recommended redacting details of GoF studies due to bioterrorism concerns, later reversed.

Link: https://osp.od.nih.gov/biotechnology/nsabb-reports/

[–] ModestCrab@lemmy.wtf 25 points 1 day ago (1 children)

2012? Bird flu been warned about since 2005 at least in my memory

[–] SarcasticMan@lemmy.world 33 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

The first case was in 1959 in Scotland. The first human case was in 1996 or 1997 in China. Then around 2002, there was an outbreak in SE Asia that caused alarm then in 2005 it spread by wild birds into Europe and triggered a big WHO warning. The first gain of function tests was in 2011 and 2012. My comment was about the gain of function tests. I probably could have worded it better

[–] OrteilGenou@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago (3 children)

What is the point of gain of function research? Sounds unwise to devote resources to making deadly diseases deadlier.

[–] absentbird@lemm.ee 14 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

I think the idea is that the diseases are likely to become deadlier whether we do research or not, but by experimenting we are able to get ahead of it.

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[–] Traister101@lemmy.today 12 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago) (1 children)

We don't "improve" diseases to make them deadilier and then just release them. The point of gain of function research essentially boils down to "How quickly can this disease become a serious issue and what do we expect that to look like?" with covid, thanks to gain of function research we knew it would quickly mutate and decrease in severity and we could significantly reduce harm by slowing the spread until it got to the point it's at today.

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[–] SarcasticMan@lemmy.world 4 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

I have to say it again, I am not a virologist. I am just a middle-aged peckerwood from South Texas so please don't take anything I say on the subject of H5N1 as fact. It's just my understanding of how things work in a field I have very little connection to lol.

Gain of function tests are very controversial. IIRC there were a few SARS-CoV-1 leaks in Asia from GoF tests in 2004 or 05. People use those to argue against them. It can also be argued that GoF tests help us map out what mutations we should be watching for so there will be faster responses when they eventually occur. It can also help to advance vaccine research.

When they are done they destroy the mutated viruses or store nonviable samples in secured labs. The security and precautions, for the most part, keep it safe. Or so we are told lol

In the big picture GoF tests are a drop, what should scare the dick off you is reassortment. That happens on its own in the wild. The hits include H2N2, H3N2, H1N1, and H9N2. IIRC H9N2 is a top donor for internal genes and making it a superstar in the reassortments of all sorts of avian flu.

Good luck

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[–] slowmorella@discuss.tchncs.de 51 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] carrion0409@lemm.ee 57 points 1 day ago

This is literally the worst possible time for it to happen. If you think global trade and prices are fucked right now then just you wait.

[–] Shootingstarrz17@lemmy.world 17 points 23 hours ago

Don't worry, just inject bleach! It worked last time. /s

[–] JaymesRS@literature.cafe 24 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Thankfully the US has a president who is deeply experienced in pandemic management and bringing society together in common cause so I should manage ok. 😭

[–] betterdeadthanreddit@lemmy.world 12 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I'm sure he's busy issuing orders and preparing a response plan (to blame Joe Biden).

[–] j0ester@lemmy.world 9 points 23 hours ago

This time it’s Obama’s fault.

[–] ravenaspiring@sh.itjust.works 15 points 1 day ago

This Week in Virology talks a bit about this at the 10min mark TWiV 1214: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

Episode webpage: https://www.microbe.tv/twiv/twiv-1214/

Media file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/twiv/TWiV1214.mp3?dest-id=25528

Also worth bookmarking the CDC summary... For as long as it's up. https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html

[–] j0ester@lemmy.world 11 points 23 hours ago

Donald and HHS: A1 said fake news. This is Obama’s fault.

[–] PattyMcB@lemmy.world 18 points 1 day ago

COVID2 Electric Boogaloo

[–] MoonlightFox@lemmy.world 25 points 1 day ago (4 children)

How to prepare for this shit again? I guess I can start by storing some masks, and a lot more food.

Any advice or thoughts? I can work from home fulltime, and grocery deliveries is possible.

[–] carrion0409@lemm.ee 34 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

My recommendation is to honestly just do what we did during covid. The government likely won't be enforcing anything this time so we're probably gonna be on our own. Also I recommend stocking up on things asap. We're already having supply chain issues and it's gonna get infinitely worse if or when this pops off.

[–] MoonlightFox@lemmy.world 24 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I live in Norway, so the government will do everything in it's power to protect its citizens probably. Like it did during COVID.

Theres no supply chain issues here currently either. During COVID pretty much everything was available besides acceptably priced GPUs

[–] carrion0409@lemm.ee 26 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Ah I'm American so I'm probably just gonna die lol

[–] krashmo@lemmy.world 12 points 23 hours ago (3 children)

If you get the flu just attend the next Trump rally you can find and cough as much as possible

[–] carrion0409@lemm.ee 13 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

Honestly that's a good idea

[–] krashmo@lemmy.world 8 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

I think so. Spit on your hands and touch all the door handles you can find. Introduce yourself with a handshake to everyone you encounter. Buy a MAGA hat and see if you can get a picture or something with Trump. Turn yourself into a full on bio weapon that exclusively targets fascists.

[–] carrion0409@lemm.ee 4 points 22 hours ago

I'm gonna become a carrier from left 4 dead. I'll show no symptoms but I'll get everyone around me infected

[–] TheBat@lemmy.world 5 points 21 hours ago

Typhoid Mary 2: MAGA Boogaloo

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[–] M1ch431@slrpnk.net 14 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

The best thing to prepare is to not be fearful and to not panic.

I suggest that everybody protest against factory farming and participate in boycotts. Call lawmakers and regulators to take direct action against these companies and their dangerous practices (and hold them responsible).

[–] boreengreen@lemm.ee 5 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

If you pitch it as a wall around the farms, that the farms will pay for. You might have a shot.

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[–] j0ester@lemmy.world 9 points 23 hours ago

Red counties first.

[–] MisterCurtis@lemmy.world 21 points 1 day ago

I wasn't expecting my bingo card to fill up so fast.

[–] carrion0409@lemm.ee 22 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Uh oh... Please don't tell me I was correct about another pandemic...

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[–] Gregg@lemm.ee 11 points 1 day ago

Can’t wait for the “that’s gay and fake” crowd to act like nothing is happening and if it is it’s Klaus Schwab’s fault.

[–] Wahots@pawb.social 9 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

A lot of innocent people would die, but there could also be some big Ws if you know who and crew all kicked the bucket by dying due to the virus or ODing on bleach and ivermectin early, rather than after four years. Thumbing our noses at mother nature by slashing health departments and the WHO contributions are just asking for trouble.

[–] neon_nova@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

How does this site charge $29/month for a subscription? That’s insane!

[–] sampao@lemmy.ml 7 points 1 day ago

They need to justify their name

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