The Inside Straight

Turning scraps of data into intelligence is like trying to fill an inside straight: You need patience -and a bit of luck !

Traces of Marburg Discovered in Certain African Fruit Bats

Marburg, an Ebola-like filovirus appears and disappears in Africa - seemingly without rhyme or reason : each outbreak leaving a trail of dead and dying people.

Researchers have long believed the virus was endemic in some species of animal,which acted as  a "reservoir"  between human outbreaks ; and, in recent years, attention has been focused on the many species of cave bats - in part, because of a seeming correlation between small scale gold mining -carried out -often surreptitiously- in caves,and outbreaks of the dreaded disease.

Now, an international team,working in Gabon, has discovered tantalizing evidence that a very specific species of fruit bat might be the carrier.

Following the testing of 1100 bats, representing 10 different species, one species : Rousettus aegyptiacus , showed positive traces of Marburg in its RNA and/or traces of antibodies for the disease.

Research is continuing in an effort to determine whether this bat species is a "true reservoir" of the virus, or whether it-like Man-merely suffers from periodic outbreaks of Marburg.

The "miracles in health care" we have come to take for granted all have their roots in unexciting , often exasperating research like this: research being carried out by people who care : people we consider "unimportant" and take for granted.

August 22, 2007 in Science | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Lake Ice May Serve as "Reservoir" for Influenza Viruses !

Startling information in ProMed (Society of Infectious Diseases) this morning : a multi-national study has found evidence Type A Influenza virus may be  "stored" in lake ice that forms in northern climates-then released into the water as the ice melts.

As explained, the virus (especially "Bird Flu") is excreted into the water by migratory fowl ; and, as the weather cools, frozen there. As the weather warms, the ice melts: releasing the virus into the lakes-from which it enters the waterways.

Once in these "pristine" waterways, the virus is carried to other creatures : flocks of chickens and other domestic fowl,pigs,and-sometimes-humans. 

If this information is true, there seems to be little we can do to prevent Influenza outbreaks - some of which can be more dangerous than the most infamous biowarfare attack diseased minds can imagine - although vaccinations (if correctly made) can reduce the overall effects.

Mother Nature is, perhaps , the greatest Terrorist of all !

November 28, 2006 in Science | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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Recent Posts

  • Ms Rabbit Reviews the World Air Guitar Championship Contest
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  • A Labor Day Morning Conversation With Ms Rabbit
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  • Traces of Marburg Discovered in Certain African Fruit Bats
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