Is this a new Sleepy Sickness epidemic developing? H5N1?

  • Thread starter Doug Huffman
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In summary, scientists are baffled by a mysterious illness that has sent hundreds of people into days-long slumbers. The relationship between encephalitis lethargica and influenza is a critical analysis and most available cases had clinical courses long enough before their death that an acute viral infection might no longer be detectable. Influenza causation might provide a convenient explanation for EL’s disappearance because the 1918-like influenza strains ceased human circulation sometime before 1933 when the first human strain was cultured.
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Doug Huffman
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Sleeping sickness traps Kazakh town in waking nightmare
Scientists are baffled by a mysterious illness that has sent hundreds of people into days-long slumbers
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...ss-traps-Kazakh-town-in-waking-nightmare.html

ProMED is my first professional news source that I consult every morning after three vulgar news sources. I am an occasional contributor as an 'interested layman'.

http://www.promedmail.org/
Published Date: 2014-09-14 20:13:11
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed cerebral disease - Kazakhstan (03)
Archive Number: 20140914.2772224

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encephalitis_lethargica

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/encephalitis_lethargica/encephalitis_lethargica.htm

The relationship between encephalitis lethargica and influenza: A critical analysis

Conclusions
It is frustrating that after almost a century of effort, we know very little about the etiology of
EL. Pertaining to the influenza hypothesis, it is invariably difficult to prove a negative case.
There are myriad technical limitations that potentially could cause experimental false
negatives. Contemporary morgues were not refrigerated so autolysis likely caused viral
degradation, after which brain is notoriously difficult to fix, and formalin fixation is suboptimal
for molecular studies. A 1-day delay of formalin fixation reduces measurable mRNA 99% and
the ratio between measured quantities of different genes could vary over 10-fold. This effect
is most pronounced for large amplicons; reducing the amplicon from 497 to 136 bp increased
quantifiable mRNA 100-fold (Abrahamsen et al, 2003; Smolinski et al, 2005). Additionally,
there is the difficulty of lysate processing from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue and
the common problem of PCR inhibitors. All of these factors may adversely affect sensitivity.

Furthermore, cellular housekeeping mRNAs may be more plentiful and therefore statistically
more likely to survive postmortem degradation in amplifiable lengths than influenza RNA.

This effect might lower the power of negative RT-PCR studies such as those of McCall et al
and Lo et al. Most available cases had clinical courses long enough before their death that an
acute viral infection might no longer be detectable.

Influenza causation might provide a convenient explanation for EL’s disappearance because
the 1918-like influenza strains ceased human circulation sometime before 1933 when the first
human strain was cultured (Taubenberger, 2006). Empirical studies provide little evidence of
influenza causation; but, as we have demonstrated, technical limitations and the shortage of
appropriate material for testing limit the degree of confidence. Therefore, unless another cause
of classical EL is positively identified, its return in the context of another influenza pandemic
remains formally possible. Such a recurrence would provide an opportunity to establish the
etiology of EL using modern methods.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2778472/pdf/nihms156516.pdf
 
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  • #2
Will be interesting to track any progress on this story. Hope it is not contagious!
 

1. What is H5N1?

H5N1 is a type of influenza virus that primarily affects birds, but can also cause infection in humans. It is commonly known as avian or bird flu.

2. Is H5N1 a new virus?

No, H5N1 was first identified in birds in the early 1990s in China. It has since spread to other countries and has caused outbreaks in both birds and humans.

3. How does H5N1 spread?

H5N1 spreads primarily through contact with infected birds or their droppings. It can also spread from person to person through close contact with respiratory secretions.

4. Is a new Sleepy Sickness epidemic developing with H5N1?

There is currently no evidence to suggest that a new Sleepy Sickness epidemic is developing with H5N1. While the virus can cause severe illness in humans, it is not easily transmitted between people.

5. What are the symptoms of H5N1 infection?

The symptoms of H5N1 infection in humans are similar to those of other types of influenza, including fever, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches. In severe cases, it can lead to respiratory failure, pneumonia, and death.

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