Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

hlthe2b

(110,661 posts)
3. Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) is not new. It circulates in the US and elsewhere in winter at same time as RSV, FLU
Sun Jan 5, 2025, 12:07 PM
Jan 2025

and COVID-19 (and Mycoplasma pneumonia--as well as common cold variants, especially Adenoviruses).

Whether a more virulent "strain" might be on the uptick in China is unclear, but those suggesting this is a new virus need to study virology a bit more. It was specifically identified in 2001 by the Dutch, but serology samples show antibodies to it in humans dating to the 1950s. As with many respiratory viruses (e.g., RSV) it is generally more a threat in young children.

Honestly, we need to focus on H5N1 (avian flu) which is rapidly spreading from dairy farm to dairy farm and potentially mutating to infect other species--including most domestic and wild cats in zoos. Right now, spread to humans has been "recoverable" albeit with significant symptoms-- and given the most uninsured population (mostly immigrants or low wage agricultural workers) are most at risk and do not receive the available (albeit short-supplied) vaccine stocks are providing a damnable opportunity for it to evolve, spread, and become a major threat.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

We are on the uptake with respiratory and flu here also. Historic NY Jan 2025 #1
I like his measured take GreatGazoo Jan 2025 #2
Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) is not new. It circulates in the US and elsewhere in winter at same time as RSV, FLU hlthe2b Jan 2025 #3
So, is this guy another hack reporter pushing the "flat-earth" virology of the lab leak hypothesis at 4:47 in the video? xocetaceans Jan 2025 #4
Tony is not a hack reporter. TexasTowelie Jan 2025 #6
Check the data on your "engineered virus" statement. You don't really know that any better than he does. n/t xocetaceans Jan 2025 #7
Really? TexasTowelie Jan 2025 #8
My statement is not one of "either...or". My point is you have no data of "yours" it came from a lab. xocetaceans Jan 2025 #9
Thanks for providing a link, but I'm not going to watch a 55 minute video from a virology class lecture. TexasTowelie Jan 2025 #10
Reading your comment again, I wanted to add one other thing. TexasTowelie Jan 2025 #11
I can only guess your background absent such extending comments. There is no intent to demean it. This is not a... xocetaceans Jan 2025 #12
You are correct that I fused HMPV and RSV together--it looked odd when I was typing it but I didn't check my work. TexasTowelie Jan 2025 #13
I appreciate your comments. I think that I was fairly sharp-edged in a comment/reply to one of your posts a few years... xocetaceans Jan 2025 #14
I like this guy Easterncedar Jan 2025 #5
Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Foreign Affairs»China's New Virus Outbrea...»Reply #3