Frozen Answers

Dateline: 02/12/98

Scientists announced a startling revelation last week: the frozen body of a Native American female, found in a village in Alaska, was found to contain in its lungs traces of the virus that caused the flu epidemic of 1918. Scientists were able to decipher the genetic information of the virus from these remnants. Until now, partial sequencing had occurred, but the virus had never been fully recovered from body tissue.

This is a particularly important finding, given the lethal nature of the 1918 epidemic in which an estimated forty to forty-five million people lost their lives--including the young and healthy. The virus typically killed in days and nearly decimated whole villages and towns. With this new genetic information, scientists hope to find out why the virus was so deadly and to prepare for the next "outbreak."

As we discussed last week in The Hong Kong Flu, virus strains don't usually change dramatically, but reappear with only slight variations. The human immune system can defend against these similar versions. But in the case of the Hong Kong Flu, which spread from birds to humans, the human immune system couldn't adequately cope, rendering the virus particularly deadly. If scientists can determine any related mechanisms of the structure of viruses, it may help with new outbreaks similar to the Hong Kong Flu.

Thus far, scientists have recovered three samples from different individuals. Little is known about the genetic differences among viruses in the 1918 epidemic. By comparing the three samples to determine genetic variability, if any, scientists hope to discern additional information about the virus. Again, this window to the past may help with future epidemics.

What do you think? Are we adequately prepared to deal with the next virulent epidemic? Will we be able to reduce its overall impact? Let your voice be heard, visit the Biology Forum and join the discussion!

For additional information see:

• Alaskan Victim of 1918 Flu Yields Sample of Killer Virus
  News report from The New York Times.