by Effie Moore Salem

Created on: May 01, 2009   Last Updated: October 01, 2010

Sequencing for influenza began at the National Institute of Health November 17th, 2004 has as its purpose to isolate specifics of viruses that annually invade vulnerable human beings. Today, May 1, 2009, I am happy to report the tools and the workable mechanisms are all in place and the Swine Flu virus A (H1N1) does not stand a chance against the workforce that is scrutinizing these disease causing microorganisms in every way possible.

To fully explain the process first of all we need to know how public health facilities and medical scientists and human germ detectors work. After that we have to probe further by breaking apart their jargon to understand precisely what, in common terms we can understand, they are talking about. Medicine is riddled not so much by innuendo that infects society's speech at large but by a system of connectives that is geared to teaching medical scientists the facts of their world. It is a Greek world indeed they inhabit. Doctors sometimes learn their specially attuned language so well they barely inhabit the world of their patients. Translated that means they sometime talk their language to us believing we can understand. Sometimes we do and sometimes we don't.

Lest I confuse the issue further, what exactly is sequencing? In reference to the influenza being discussed, it is nothing more than a series of steps the specimen undergoes as it relates to the analysis being undertaken. Certain well learned things lab workers do in exact ways but each with a different thought in mind. In regards to the Swine Flu sequencing going on, it means taking a sample of sputum, or some other DNA containing material from a patients mouth or wherever and subjecting it to a set number of detective measures.

It is a process of learning all they can about this new-never-been-seen before virus. Believe me, or better still, you had better believe them, that before they are finished, in one way or another, they will know the habits and the wherefores and the intricacies of this unwelcome virus. What is the ongoing project? To learn how the virus does its destructive work so that the investigators can find ways of denying the creature these rights. The White House has put up the money to pay for the project and to build a vaccine that will render vulnerable people immune to the potential destructiveness of the swine flu virus.

The project has hardly begun but by October 1st, by the time of the next flu season, they hope to be ready to immunize the hoards that will be lining up for their flu shots. Medicine is not an exact science and like it or not, much planning is done on speculation. Since they are dealing with the unknowns about this particular strain of virus, they want to be prepared should the minute little varmint lie low - or invade Australia and the other down-under countries just now starting their flu seasons - until October and then start out robust and energetic enough to feast upon unsuspecting humans once again. Normally the flu season is from October to February. Absolutely not. We do not want to be their Christmas dinner. We will get our vaccine and will simply, with a squish or two wash them down the drain as we wash our hands.

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