Swine Flu Evolution

This schematic, from here, indicates that the latest swine flu virus was a recent recombination of swine viruses -- but that one of the swine viruses was actually a human/swine/avian recombinant:

This may resolve the apparent confusion about whether the flu was just swine or a mix-- it's both. Importantly, the human/swine/avian virus supposedly has been around for a while, and thus wasn't a recent laboratory creation (if we take their word for it).

The good news is the virus was more bark than bite, and seems to pose little threat to humans. Though the first American died recently from the flu. She was... wait for it... 33.


This article says the current virus is related to a 1998 virus that arose from a massive pig farm. Clearly, something needs to be done about the disgusting conditions in which pork is produced. Going vegetarian would be a good start!