By Anthony Gucciardi
theintelhub.com
August 1, 2012

This article originally appeared on Natural Society

A number of reports within the mainstream news arena have begun surfacing surrounding the newly emerging  H3N8 ’seal flu virus’, labeling it as the ‘next pandemic’ and hammering on the possibility for the virus to spread among humans.

It seems that the media ultimately likes to hype up all pandemic ‘threats’ whether it be the notoriously-mild swine flu ‘pandemic’ or the looming bird flu explosion.

With the surfacing of so many touted pandemics and alarming viruses always comes a push for rushed vaccinations, later followed by haunting reports of severe side effects (and years later confirmed by medical journals.)

But what about the seal flu virus? Is it a real threat, or a phony pandemic scare? The strain was first examined in New England among harbor seals by scientific researchers, killing over 162 of the seals over a four-month period.

research team that analyzed the strain of H3N8 influenza linked to a baby seal die-off in New England last year found that it originated in birds and has adapted to mammals, signaling a possible threat to humans and animals alike.

The study, which appeared today in mBio, the online journal of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), also revealed mutations that are known to make flu viruses more transmissible and able to cause severe disease.

 

In December 2011, scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that an investigation of 162 seal deaths that fall revealed the H3N8 virus in samples from all five animals studied, the first time the strain had been linked to large-scale mortality in marine mammals. Study authors include researchers from NOAA, Columbia University, and several other institutions.

The infected seals had severe pneumonia and skin lesions, and most of them were less than 6 months old.

H3N8 is typically associated with wild birds, but in 2005 researchers found that a type of the strain that emerged in racing greyhounds had jumped from horses to dogs. The illness in dogs is generally mild and hasn't posed any known danger to humans.

Genetic and phylogenetic analysis of samples from the seals found that the virus was an avian subtype that was similar to one that has infected North American waterfowl since 2002, but has adapted to mammals with mutations that make it more transmissible and pathogenic. Scientists gave the new virus the provisional name influenza A/harbor seal/Massachusetts/1/2011.

After launching an investigation headed by virologist W. Ian Lipkin, MD, of Columbia University, it was found that the mutated virus had actually transmitted from sea birds to the seals themselves.

The virus had mutated in a number of ways after affecting the seals, such as being able to spread among mammals — or at least from seal to seal as of right now. The virus infected the seals lung tissue and airways, and eventually became even more virulent.

 
Of course the largest concern with this virus is the possibility that it will spread to humans from animals. Considering that it has already mutated somewhat substantially, mainstream media organizations are already sounding the alarm for pandemic mode.

Experts say, however, that it’s highly unlikely that the H3N8 seal flu virus will even spread to humans. That is unless, of course, the mammal-adapted H3N8 were to combine with the H5N1 bird flu virus. Such a combination and subsequent mutations would provide a recipe for a potentially deadly ‘super’ virus.

What’s most concerning is the fact that this could most easily be expedited in a laboratory setting, making the virus highly weaponized.

It may sound outlandish to some, but bioterrorism experts have previously confirmed that such a concern does exist — even with the bird flu virus itself. When scientists recently published research on how to develop a highly-weaponized version of the H5N1 bird flu that could easily spread among humans, experts on bioterrorism began to speak out.

One such foremost expert on the subject is Paul Keim, chair of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity. In a statement on just how serious of an impact just weaponized bird flu could have on the world, Keim stated:

“This is such a dangerous biological weapon, it would not be controllable. Whoever used it would doubtlessly decimate their own people as well,” Keim said

It is quite easy, then, to see how a weaponized version of the human-adapted seal virus — a merger of two deadly strains — is particularly concerning. In the event that such a bioterrorism act were committed by a group or individual, it could be severely problematic. Whether or not this scenario will unfold is yet to be seen, however, it seems to be the most significant manner in which a real pandemic could develop through artificial means.

 
It is essential to begin bolstering up your immune system regardless of whether or not a new ‘pandemic’ is on the horizon. In addition to switching to high quality organic foods, drinking pure water, and performing sweat-inducing activities on a daily basis, here are my recommended ‘pandemic’ substances list to keep in your home at all times:

• Oil of oregano
• Liquid turmeric
• High quality colloidal silver purchased from a reputable provider (Supernatural Silver is a great provider and is even approved by the FDA, believe it or not)
• 5,000 IU doses of Vitamin D3
• Nascent atomic iodine
• Probiotics or fermented foods like kefir