Originally Posted by killivolt View Post
It was not the Virus that killed. If you look at some of the most recent research from the CDC, the Spanish Flue deaths were mostly caused by secondary bacterial infections. (H1n1)
Agreed here. Much of the immune system was weakened by the viral infection and the body could not fight off the new invasion. In the case of the 1918 virus it is believed that Bacillus influenzae was the secondary pathogen, once thought to be primary.
If individuals who are in the immediate area and are then exposed to the virus and bacteria now mutated to a more deadly strain once transmitted will then weaken the body's ability to fight it. (The immediate area is first transmission zone. Which is where the bacteria and virus reside on or near first host animal. In this case the towns people living by the production farm. Let's keep in mind that Bacteria and Virus act independently and location of impact is in the lungs then distributed through the body by blood transport. )
Virus's are very host specific and only target specific organisms like bird, humans, or swine and human, or bacteria . Although there are bacteriophage (Virus that host on bacteria) That was not the case of the 1918 virus. I have not been able to find a viral strain that targets both humans and bacteria. It is possible to contract a strain of bacteria that has been invaded by a virus, but I do not know of one at the moment.
Something that will further complicate it is if that person has consumed on a regular basis the pork that has residual Antibiotics in the slaughtered meat that suppresses that individuals immune systems response. Then you have a very good incubator for the bacteria to thrive and become the strain of bacteria that kills. ( And this is the breaking point for me ( Signing on to a blanket statement from the FDA who are not working for me and you all the time it's a spit decision and is a cost verses gain ratio to impact the Agricultural Market and Prodution.) And also the preaching in Colleges and University's by health organizations who Preach the new doctrine that there is no ( Gateway Drug ) therefor there is no possibility for legalization of drugs in this Country and the Battle we have already lost will continue.
Okay, just to get my facts straight on this point I contacted the FDA for this one. It is true that livestock are given antibiotics and much concern has been raised over this issue.
The FDA has a regulation that the livestock can not be slaughtered for a certain time period after being injected with an antibiotic. After the required time window, the antibiotics are pharmakinetically passed from the livestock and residual antibiotics are at a low safe level.
The real concern here from the general public is the introduction of a antibiotic resistant strain into our meat which we eat. Valid concern to be sure, but FDA claims that proper food handling is essential, ie. wash hands etc. Proper cooking temp and times will remove all pathogens. Residual antibiotics if any are present will most likely be made ineffective by cooking. Bottom line, Don't eat undercooked meat.
All you need now is another victim to transmit the ( virus laden bacterial spore) with a cough or spittle or sneeze and suddenly you have the second transmission and possible second victim who will then mutate and so on. (Once again misunderstood as one single pathogen yet is 2 seperate organizms (H1n1) and a Bacterial resistant strain of bacteria.)
As stated above, a virus that invades a human host will not target bacteria, at least not yet.
The way that Viruses populate is unusual tricking the immune system to believe it is a match to (tirggering) an immune system cell to divide however, once that virus has achieved this it has already deposited it's own markers in your immune system cell now mutated.
A virus does not need magic tricks, it is a simple matter of the virus matching the cell membranes receptors (lock and key), thus gaining access into the cell, where its RNA strands are then duplicated and reproduced. New virus then buds from the cell.
The immune system itself now becomes the transport system and genetic material for the virus. It now will appear as any other immune system cell with remnant markers of the cell still present when those encounter more immune system cell the will then repeat the process.
Therefor the immune system will not attack itself and it will clone more and more. But it's not done yet a virus has an even more powerful tool it can (resurrect) a dead cell and clone it ( scientist still don't understand this process) suddenly the immune system is overwhelmed by the invaders ever evolving pattern of division.
In the lungs the perfect environment for the newly antibiotic resistant strain of bacteria grows to lethal levels further destroying the now weaken immune system to become a fatality. ( All depends on where you live and what your last name is. It is however in the interest of the world to stop this in it's tracks therefor you will see several methods both in the use of media and communication and common welfare of a possible pandemic the world has been preparing for since 1918. Working in tandem.)
Your path from viral infection to antibiotic resistant bacteria is somewhat incorrect. Today's medicine can halt a viral infection before secondary infection sets in. Not in all cases however; but to imply that viral infection leads to a antibiotic resistant strain of bacteria is just not correct.
Yes, your right. But they are somewhat hand in hand not one without the other and what kills is the bacterial infections now mutated. Aided by the antibiotic connection.
Once that Virus of 1918 circled the planet it was stronger than the first and came back around with devastating results . (This was from the first host to our troops and after wintering together and allowing the virus to spread in a small groups of people such as ( People in their homes and those working together in an office buses. People just trying their best to stay warm but still perfect environment for transporting from host to host. Until it returns to the U.S. after traveling around the planet gaining strength.)
I don't recall a resurrection of this virus after 1918.