Comments

on Anthrax in Minnesota? The Laboratory Response Network Springs Into Action

Sat Mar 9 17:45:20 2013

"The backstory: The man was three weeks into a road trip and could have passed this fast-acting, apparently lethal bug on to any number of people." Exactly how do you suppose that the anthrax bacteria would be transmitted to any number of people? Quit scaring folks. "There is no evidence of person-to-person transmission of anthrax. Quarantine of affected individuals is not recommended." http://textbookofbacteriology.net/Anthrax_5.html

Vincent Racaniello makes this comment

on Event - Synthetic Biology: Life both as you know it ... and as you don’t -Tues. Oct. 23 @busboysandpoets DC

Mon Oct 22 15:49:26 2012

I guess this supports my belief that viruses are not alive. Because poliovirus has been made from 'off-the-shelf-chemicals': see Link Text http://www.virology.ws/2009/11/18/viruses-and-journalism-off-the-shelf-chemicals/

David Flora makes this comment

on Danger in the blood: U-M scientists show how antibiotic-resisting bacterial infections may form (Press Release)

Fri Aug 31 09:12:14 2012

Thanks for this great information.I really found this helpful

Chris Condayan makes this comment

on ICAAC Live 2012 San Francisco

Mon Aug 20 13:56:02 2012

Hi Jim, the Bambuser test screen is just the embed of the live stream player from Bambuser.com. The counter is actually the current time. When we go live from ICAAC the test screen will disappear and be replaced by video from the event.

jim makes this comment

on ICAAC Live 2012 San Francisco

Sat Aug 18 22:09:51 2012

What's the Bambuser test screen? And the counter on it?

Román Yesid Ramírez R makes this comment

on Sobre Catalina Dávila

Mon May 21 18:47:50 2012

Hola Catalina, soy colombiano y fan de los postcats del mundo de los microbios, quisiera poder contactarme contigo porque estoy interesado en estudios de doctorado en el campo de nuevas alternativas en antibioterapia. Mi correo es royer94@gmail.com. Agradecería tu contacto. Chao

Chris Condayan makes this comment

on Get MicrobeWorld To Go on iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch or Android devices

Mon Apr 30 16:50:24 2012

This is a follow up for Alberto. Unfortunately our partners who created the app tell us that while they "know it is frustrating for international users there isn't much they can do about it right now." I'll keep you posted if anything changes in the near future.

Lorraine Harris makes this comment

on Know Your Mushrooms - The Documentary

Wed Apr 25 21:31:15 2012

Saw on the Sundance Channel - only caught part of it - what I saw was very interesting - worthwhile information about mushrooms. I copied part of it until I can see all of it.

Chris Condayan makes this comment

on Get MicrobeWorld To Go on iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch or Android devices

Wed Apr 11 18:41:41 2012

Hi Alberto Catalana, I will look into it and post back here as soon as I find out. I see no reason why they can't.

Alberto Catalano makes this comment

on Get MicrobeWorld To Go on iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch or Android devices

Tue Apr 10 12:12:54 2012

Unfortunately the Android apps are not available in Australia because the Amazon AppStore is restricted to within the USA. Can these apps be made available on the Google apps store?

Chris Condayan makes this comment

on TWiV Live in Dublin, Ireland, Monday, March 26 2012

Mon Mar 26 14:16:44 2012

We are running a bit late. Please be patient.

Allan Robbins makes this comment

on About Dickson D. Despommier, Ph.D.

Fri Mar 2 01:12:34 2012

I've enjoy listening to your your TWIP podcast. You are a wonderful story teller and though I have worked in this field a bit as well, I never fail to learn something. I listen in the car on Sticher. My kids think I'm weird but they like it too. In the episode today (1MAR12) on dracunculosis, you made the natural connection that we come across cylops both in the Malaria and the Guinea Worm programs, but in the Podcast you said a couple times that mosquito larvae eat the cyclops and I think you probably meant the converse. We add cyclops to family water jars in Cambodia, to eat the mosquito larvae. Anyway keep up the great work. You strike a nice balance of making the field more approachable, while keeping it interesting enough even for the grouches. Best regards, Allan Allan Robbins, DIH, MPH

Ray Ortega makes this comment

on Cameco's Cigar Lake Saskatchewan mine dealing with outbreak of nasty norovirus

Fri Feb 17 20:15:13 2012

Local DMV area getting hit too. GW campus reporting at least 85 cases in the last few days.

Chris Condayan makes this comment

on Trine Tsouderos on This Week in Virology: When do you fact-check article content with sources?

Thu Sep 22 15:49:07 2011

I think the issue is that if you fact check with the author of the study you are writing about you risk getting a biased assessment. However, this doesn't mean you shouldn't fact check it with an independent source.

Vincent Racaniello makes this comment

on Trine Tsouderos on This Week in Virology: When do you fact-check article content with sources?

Thu Sep 22 15:40:50 2011

I think it's a great idea to check facts in science-related stories; I cannot understand why the writers are so opposed to this practice. I checked Rebecca Skloot's 'Immortal Life' in this way and I am sure she is grateful. I've also done it for Trine, as we reveal in TWiV 149.

Dr. Alexander Pauli makes this comment

on New gonorrhea strain resists all antibiotics

Mon Jul 11 16:42:24 2011

Sorry: http://www.manetec-52.de/apps/amicbase_drugs-online/base.nsf That's the complete link to AmicBase. Or via www.reviewscience.com A.Pauli

Dr. Alexander Pauli makes this comment

on New gonorrhea strain resists all antibiotics

Mon Jul 11 16:39:10 2011

Check out older antibiotics against Neisseria gonorrhoeae. There are many with activity formerly -- and today? Have all these drugs been tested in the antibiogram ? Over 400 tests are saved in AmicBase against this organism: http://www.manetec-52.de Best regards Alexander Pauli

Vincent Racaniello makes this comment

on Epidemiology and social media: conference fail

Sun Jun 26 18:27:22 2011

Indeed, the empowerment of the internet for scientists is quite well known - it allows us to reach many more people than we ever have in our careers. Many scientists are blogging and podcasting and reaching new audiences, which appreciate the direct contact. This is why we just passed one million downloads on TWiV. It would be useful to emphasize such success stories as examples of what scientists can be doing.

European Biotechnologist makes this comment

on Science Comedian Brian Malow at #AAAS

Sun Feb 27 21:05:10 2011

I think that Brian Malow is great and I have quoted him a lot on the european biotechnologist blog . I have also found another video which is funny yet makes (what I believe to be) a subtle political statement regarding the use of animals in scientific research. Check out Tofu mice: science for vegans

William Stevan makes this comment

on Animation depicting the life cycle of H1N1 influenza-A

Sat Nov 27 02:56:44 2010

This video is amazing!!! It is so imformative and iteresting and i love the use of this animation!

Ray Ortega makes this comment

on Inside the Mind's Eye: Communicating Science in a New Media Era

Fri Sep 24 15:15:33 2010

Date of Carl's talk: Thursday, October 14, 2010 Cost: Free

Chris Condayan makes this comment

on ASM Live 2010

Tue Jun 22 17:54:46 2010

Both missing videos "Global Warming May Spur New Fungal Diseases" and "Influenza surveillance: Should we be monitoring swine herds?" are now posted for your viewing pleasure.

Derrick Tolly makes this comment

on ASM Live 2010

Sat May 29 19:51:10 2010

a lot*, obviously.

Derrick Tolly makes this comment

on ASM Live 2010

Sat May 29 19:50:33 2010

I agree, that was a ot of fun. Made my week.

Cesar Sanchez makes this comment

on ASM Live 2010

Thu May 27 16:12:16 2010

Thanks so much to everybody involved in the making of ASM Live! For all of us who couldn't make it to San Diego, it was great to be able to watch the interviews live -- and even to ask questions to the interviewees! Please keep the good work.

Suzanne Kennedy makes this comment

on The Good, the Bad and the Virulent

Thu May 27 15:34:00 2010

Baahaahaaa.....very cute and very funny!! Good job!

Chris Condayan makes this comment

on ASM Live 2010

Tue May 25 18:29:32 2010

Do to our server crash the recording for "Influenza surveillance: Should we be monitoring swine herds?" did not happen.

Cesar Sanchez makes this comment

on High bacterial counts in Canadian bottled water #ASMGM

Tue May 25 17:47:35 2010

This is an amazing story, and I'm looking forward to know how it ends. That is, I'm curious about the identity of the bacteria and, of course, the source of contamination -- and why the water companies didn't notice the problem...

Chris Condayan makes this comment

on ASM Live 2010

Mon May 24 21:35:58 2010

The ASM Live recording for "Global Warming May Spur New Fungal Diseases" crashed in mid-stream. Unfortunately, it is not available for post viewing.

Vincent Racaniello makes this comment

on Interview with Tom Shenk about mBio, ASM's new open access journal

Mon May 17 14:06:48 2010

Let's not forget that Dr. Shenk was instrumental in bringing TWiV to microbeworld.org. Which then lead to TWiP.

Betsy Smeed makes this comment

on Martian Gypsum May Preserve Microbe Fossils

Sun May 2 15:17:30 2010

This combines two of my favorite things, microbes and mineralogy.

Suzanne Kennedy makes this comment

on Beer consumption increases human attractiveness to malaria mosquitoes

Sun Apr 25 17:30:25 2010

That explains a lot. My guy wonders why he's so popular with mosquitoes. I'd like to see a study with drinkers of Captain and Coke next.

Suzanne Kennedy makes this comment

on The Attendee's Guide to Scientific Meetings, Part II

Fri Apr 23 16:12:36 2010

Thanks Chris! Good tips before ASM. I'll summarize and link it to an article at MO BIO's blog too.

Suzanne Kennedy makes this comment

on A State Microbe For Cheese-Crazed Wisconsin?

Fri Apr 23 04:26:20 2010

California could be the Cyanobacteria Synechococcus CC9311 , found in the coastal waters of the Pacific: Surf’s Up—And One Coastal Microbe Has Adapted http://bit.ly/9zUPXW

Chris Condayan makes this comment

on Facebook for Scientists

Thu Apr 15 14:44:40 2010

Alan Cann of Microbiology Bytes may have said it best on his Twitter response.

Vincent Racaniello makes this comment

on Facebook for Scientists

Wed Apr 14 18:37:58 2010

This is a colossal waste of money, given that there are many free tools available on the web that enable social interaction among scientists. The funds would have been far better spent supporting the research of new scientists.

Chris Condayan makes this comment

on Science and Nature to publish new open access journal

Sat Apr 3 20:23:37 2010

I love how the fake April fools item makes it to the top of the most popular submissions on the site. And yes Ramy, PLoS is certainly one of the more innovative journals out there. But more and more are following their example. ASM's new mBio is a case in point. There is also Nature's Preceedings which is similar in spirit to the faux news release from AAAS.

Ramy K. Aziz makes this comment

on Science and Nature to publish new open access journal

Fri Apr 2 20:17:50 2010

Regardless of the April fools factor, such journal won't be really needed because all this innovation is almost done by PLoS journals...

Chris Condayan makes this comment

on Facebook 'linked to rise in syphilis' in Britain

Thu Mar 25 21:16:19 2010

Here's Facebook's follow up to the study.

candy Estrada Ayala makes this comment

on Don't Get Caught Dirty Handed

Wed Mar 10 08:04:04 2010

It really doesn't sound like news to me. I believe parents put more time into teaching girls to be more clean than they do with boys. You should never forget to wash your hand when you go to the restroom even if you don't actually "go" or you just go in to use the mirror because there are lots of bacterias.

Susan Tomchak makes this comment

on Small Things Considered - 2009 in Review

Thu Dec 17 17:16:12 2009

ouhyhhhhhhuuh

Karen the Microblogologist makes this comment

on Germ Proof Your Kids (MWV26)

Tue Dec 8 03:39:41 2009

This is a great take on this very important issue. I think I am going to need to get a copy of that book and if it is as good as it seems from the video it'll be something I will recommend for all parents to read. And that little curly haired blond boy is totally adorable!

Cesar Sanchez makes this comment

on The Winged Scourge featuring the Seven Dwarfs

Tue Nov 17 18:16:24 2009

Ha, ha! What a great film! I love old Disney movies. But it's so sad that, after 66 years, malaria still brings sickness and misery to millions of people around the world...

Garth Hogan makes this comment

on 1976 Swine Flu Vaccination via Jet Injector

Thu Nov 12 15:50:13 2009

Has anyone ever gotten a shot from one of these? Do they hurt?

Raw Oyster makes this comment

on FDA to ban sale of raw oysters from Gulf of Mexico

Fri Nov 6 16:22:26 2009

No... the FDA is not trying to ban the sale of raw oysters. They are trying to make raw oysters safe by requiring them to be post harvest processed so that 15 or more individuals do not continue to die each year. I don't understand why that is so hard to understand and I don't understand why articles such as this one is wrongly portraying what the FDA is trying to do. There is NO BAN proposed by the FDA, simply guidelines on the processing and sale of raw oysters. My father died from eating raw oysters and he was not aware of that the risks of raw oysters included death from contracting a flesh eating bacteria through raw oysters. It is the FDA's responsibility to keep people safe. '

Karen the Microblogologist makes this comment

on Scientists for a Better PCR

Thu Nov 5 02:45:03 2009

Best research equipment commercial EVER!

Karen the Microblogologist makes this comment

on The Lab Safety Song

Wed Nov 4 22:18:56 2009

Very funny! Not quite how I would clean up a radioactive spill though

Cesar Sanchez makes this comment

on The Virus That Cures - Bacteriophage

Sun Oct 18 18:53:22 2009

More information about phage therapy can be found here: http://is.gd/4pzoz

Cal Sagadraca makes this comment

on Interview with Paul Turner - The Evolution of Disease

Thu Oct 15 14:15:49 2009

wow wow wow wow thgis is so cool dude

Garth Hogan makes this comment

on Tracking Counterfeit Anti-malarial Drugs in Southeast Asia

Wed Oct 14 14:14:01 2009

This is an awesome bit of investigation. I can't believe the ending, but hopefully there will be continued enforcement.

Mariya makes this comment

on Don't Get Caught Dirty Handed

Wed Oct 7 20:24:33 2009

Yea no kidding if guys don't wash their hands that's just sick, I'm sorry but i would feel so grossed out if guy touched me after the bathroom trip and didn't wash his hands. I think that females wash their hands more frequently because they cook and clean and no one likes having sticky hands.

Cody Vaughn makes this comment

on Don't Get Caught Dirty Handed

Wed Oct 7 06:00:13 2009

Since i have been a kid handwashing has been a must for me. Now knowing the facts about why we need clean hands i am so happy i was a weird kid. Handwashing is so important to live a healthy life.

Chris makes this comment

on Don't Get Caught Dirty Handed

Wed Oct 7 04:18:26 2009

Handwashing is essential to wellness. It keeps the bad bacteria down and the good bacteria safe. I know everyone is using the alcohol based sanitizer, but that kills the good bacteria that you need to stay healthy.

Sandra R makes this comment

on Don't Get Caught Dirty Handed

Wed Oct 7 03:14:53 2009

Yuk! Of course it is the guys fault. They most times have to touch themselves when they use the restroom. Then if they don't wash their hands & touch everything else...so yuk! It is gross when women don't wash their hands either but most times they are not touching themselves. Sandra

Karen the Microblogologist makes this comment

on 'Make your own ethanol' refineries hit US market

Wed Sep 16 16:28:55 2009

My dad brews his own beer, my mom isn't too happy about it, she would kill me if I told him about this!

Karen the Microblogologist makes this comment

on New 'adjuvant' could hold future of vaccine development

Tue Sep 15 05:07:58 2009

It would be great to get a good effective as well as safe adjuvant approved in the US. If it costs less than the vaccine itself there is a chance it could lower the costs of the vaccinations it is in by lowering the amount needed per patient.

Karen the Microblogologist makes this comment

on The Morning Shower, aka Bacteria Bath

Tue Sep 15 04:49:43 2009

Dr. Pace came to Iowa State as a guest speaker in our Interdepartmental Microbiology Program seminar last year and presented his findings on this topic and others. One area they have also tested with similar findings is heated indoor swimming pools. The seminar ends around 5:00pm and I normally attend a water aerobics class at 5:30pm that day of the week and so wore my bathing suit on under my clothes so I could walk to the gym after seminar. I found it funny attending a seminar discussing how heated indoor pools and shower heads (particularly older ones), tend to harbor all those different species of Mycobacteria and then going to do a fitness class in a heated indoor pool and taking a shower in an old locker room with obviously old shower heads right after. He gave a very good seminar, I am glad he agreed to accept our invitation to come out here.

Chris Condayan makes this comment

on First Isolation of MRSA found in West Coast Beaches

Sun Sep 13 14:58:36 2009

Check out Seattle local NBC affiliate KING5 News' report and video segment here.

Karen the Microblogologist makes this comment

on File Under 'Cool Art Department' - Glass Microbiology

Fri Sep 11 00:13:19 2009

That is so cool! My little sister is an artist and sometimes makes me microbiology themed pieces, I love them and the concept of the worlds of art and microbiology/science coming together. Keep up the great work Luke, and thanks for sharing this Chris.

Karen the Microblogologist makes this comment

on Peter Palese on H1N1/Influenza, Porcine and Otherwise

Wed Sep 9 16:45:06 2009

Very well done, I will definitely be sending people this link. I really like the fact that he presented this information in a way that I feel people without a background in virology, immunology or related fields can understand it. He managed to express the importance of vaccination and disease prevention with the message that this virus is not something that people should panic over but rather keep an eye on and do what they can to prevent contracting and spreading it. I wish that this was the message sent from the beginning of this outbreak/pandemic, be concerned but don't panic. I fear now and am seeing evidence that the way the media handled this and caused so much panic over a virus that obviously has not been the killer they were saying it was has set a precedence with the public and they are no longer as likely to take news of future outbreaks as seriously as they should in a classic "boy who cried wolf" scenario. We need to be able to inform the public about potentially dangerous diseases but not cause panic that would cause way more harm than good. Personally I feel the way the media over-sensationalized this outbreak is criminal and they should be held accountable for it.

Chris Condayan makes this comment

on Don't be the Fifth Guy

Mon Sep 7 20:04:25 2009

I haven't called the number. I assumed it's the director of video's number. Did you call it?

Ray Ortega makes this comment

on Don't be the Fifth Guy

Sun Sep 6 05:49:56 2009

Love the video, funny and definitely addresses a personal peeve of mine, but I have a really hard time believing that 4 out of 5 people actually wash their hands after leaving the restroom. Based on personal observation it would seem like a lot less. 3 out of 5 would have surprised me quite frankly. Although I bet at least two of the five don't come close to washing properly. The only other question I have is, have you called the number left at the end? What's with that? LOL. Viral video (pun intended) is a great way to go with this subject however. There should be more like it to address other public health issues.

Garth Hogan makes this comment

on Homeland Security Secretary Says Big Influx of H1N1 Infections Likely this Fall

Wed Sep 2 19:28:22 2009

Elmo says wash your hands! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zG4hX8TEkAA&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fflu%2Egov%2Fpsa%2Findex%2Ehtml&feature=player_embedded

Chris Condayan makes this comment

on Host-Pathogen Interaction and Human Disease (Part 2) by Stanley Falkow, Ph.D.

Wed Sep 2 02:42:03 2009

I'm glad you enjoyed the Falkow lecture.

Michael Schmidt makes this comment

on Host-Pathogen Interaction and Human Disease (Part 2) by Stanley Falkow, Ph.D.

Mon Aug 31 16:47:37 2009

This is the second of Dr. Falkow's excellent lectures on Host-Pathogen Interactions. If you are interested in how microbes can trigger cancer this again is a must view. In this video Dr. Falkow presents our current understanding of the association of CagA, synthesized by some Helicobacter, can interact with the tight junctions of the eukarytoic cells resulting in changes in signaling and motility of those cells in a very approachable format.

Michael Schmidt makes this comment

on Host-Pathogen Interaction and Human Disease (Part 1) by Stanley Falkow, Ph.D.

Mon Aug 31 16:37:05 2009

If you are interested in the relationships between Microbes and humans, this is a great primer on this subject. Dr. Falkow presents outstanding overview of this complex topic. This is a must view for anyone interested in this subject.

timmy makes this comment

on USB Microscope from Japan

Thu Aug 20 20:02:46 2009

pls cnt someone tell me how much it will cost to have that wonderful piece

timmy makes this comment

on USB Microscope from Japan

Thu Aug 20 20:00:49 2009

that is wonderful but how much is it

Chris Condayan makes this comment

on Who's fault is scientific illiteracy?

Wed Aug 12 21:32:13 2009

Being able to read an audience is an art form and takes a lot of experience, in my opinion. But that doesn't mean scientists shouldn't try. The more you communicate and learn from mistakes the better off you are for it.A lot of what this blog post talks about is the fear of ridicule from fellow scientists and the stigma of being "entertaining." It's unfortunate that people succumb to this peer pressure.Hopefully that attitude will become "sooooo 20th century." (There's my pop culture reference)

Betsy Smeed makes this comment

on Who's fault is scientific illiteracy?

Wed Aug 12 17:32:28 2009

I was listening to Neil deGrasse Tyson talking about giving talks about science. And Dr. Tyson suggested part of figuring out the audience is being familiar with pop culture. Which I think is true when trying to get a general audience interested in science.

Garth Hogan makes this comment

on First real-time video of bacteria infecting a living host

Mon Jul 27 19:52:10 2009

FYI another article on this story is at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090727113102.htm

Chris Condayan makes this comment

on First real-time video of bacteria infecting a living host

Mon Jul 27 19:14:57 2009

I know, I must of clicked play 10 times at least.

Karen the Microblogologist makes this comment

on First real-time video of bacteria infecting a living host

Mon Jul 27 19:02:00 2009

That is so cool! Definitely has potential for gaining insight into host-pathogen interactions.

Victor Del Fuego makes this comment

on Know Your Mushrooms - The Documentary

Mon Jul 20 15:25:01 2009

Has any one seen this movie yet? Is it any good?

Betsy Smeed makes this comment

on Not Just Any Bug - Cynthia Haseltine on Archaea, DNA Repair and Lymphoma

Wed Jul 15 17:16:22 2009

This is pretty cool, especially the idea of using the Archean as a model to understand how humans repair DNA.

Garth Hogan makes this comment

on Unleashing the Power of Beer

Fri Jul 10 17:06:11 2009

I also have a solution for any leftover beer.

Chris Condayan makes this comment

on Biofuels in Puerto Rico

Thu Jul 2 15:05:29 2009

I would vote this comment up if we had that option!

Ray Ortega makes this comment

on Biofuels in Puerto Rico

Wed Jul 1 19:16:08 2009

Amazing video with great shots of Puerto Rico all in glorious high definition! Make sure to click on and watch the HD version as well. This is yet another informative MicrobeWorld video that addresses a popular and necessary topic, alternative fuels. The entire world is in need for alternatives to fossil fuels and this episode shows yet another cool approach that will not only help PR's fuel needs but their economy as well. Solving this issue will require a global solution and in this video we can see that amazing work is being done across the globe.

Chris Condayan makes this comment

on Elederly People in the UK more likely to Gamble with Food Safety

Wed Jun 17 19:33:34 2009

Good points Ray!

Ray Ortega makes this comment

on Elederly People in the UK more likely to Gamble with Food Safety

Wed Jun 17 18:06:55 2009

Here is a good pdf that deals a lot with the issue of home economics. Here is the link http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/pafiover65.pdf. The article shows that people over age 65 are less likely to identify use by dates as a factor in their decision to consume. I think the respondents probably did not grow up with use by dates and therefore are simply less likely to use this as an indicator of freshness. But more likely their unwillingness to throw food out is due to the culture they grew up in. Wasting what appears to be perfectly good food in times of war and bad economies was most certainly never done unless the food was visibly tainted. I think those people 65 and older are just less likely to waste due to growing up in an era with different values. Overall and interesting study and I would like to see more of the data from the qualitative survey that was conducted. Numbers are nice but what the people actually tell you is often times more revealing.

Chris Condayan makes this comment

on Elederly People in the UK more likely to Gamble with Food Safety

Wed Jun 17 14:26:27 2009

This is an interesting study in part because I don't think it takes into account basic home economics and the recession. Prior to the market crash I was a stickler for "use by" dates, now that it's tougher to make ends meet I use the "nose" and "quick taste" test more often. Sure, I may be flirting with disaster but at least I'll have the money for my co-pay

Chris Condayan makes this comment

on Swine Flu is all pork, not avian or human, claims researchers

Tue May 5 20:48:43 2009

Turns out a few days later that the NY Times interviewed a researcher who debunks this story. Here's an excerpt: It is essentially a blend of Eurasian swine flu and North American swine flu, but Western hemisphere strains have had an avian segment on the PB2 gene for at least 10 years and a human component on the PB1 gene since 1993, said Henry L. Niman, a biochemist who tracks flu mutations. “The original report is correct,” Dr. Niman said of the C.D.C.’s analysis. The rumors, he added in an e-mail message, stem from “someone who really doesn’t know how to analyze sequences (or is being misquoted.)” Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/01/health/01origin.html?_r=1

Chris Condayan makes this comment

on TWiV 29 - Swine Flu Returns

Mon May 4 14:33:56 2009

This latest episode #30 covers Swine Flu in depth. It's another great episode.

Chris Condayan makes this comment

on Preventing the Flu: Good Health Habits Can Help Stop Germs

Wed Apr 29 17:42:50 2009

I am glad this CDC link is getting around to folks.

David Watts makes this comment