I feel like it is possible that the flu could be the next big one. Especially the H5N1 strain coming from birds because it can transmit from human to human so easily. I feel like most people think we are safe because we have flu vaccines but those are only for the types that come around each year and I feel like once the avian flu comes back if it does we would not have time to research and vaccinate in time before a massive amount of people will die. In this day and age it is so much easier to travel which means it is also so much easier to spread disease. If people got on a plane and someone was infected with something that can be transmitted through the air then all the people on the plane could be potentially sick. Think of that but all the people having different connecting flights or meeting and staying with family and the cycle continues infecting more and more people. So it is possible that the next big one could be the flu but it just as well could be another highly contagious virus that can also spread by aerosol like SARS. This coronavirus outbreak in Asia right now very well could be the next big one and we must watch and pay close attention because this could become global very fast and kill many people because of how quickly and airborne pathogen can spread. Whatever the next big one is will most likely be a pathogen that spreads very quickly and easily and gives the host enough time to spread it so not killing super fast but decently fast.
Hi Ethan,
I agree that the avian flu is probably the flu strain that we have to worry about the most, as it is the most deadly form of flu that has infected humans.
However, you mention that the only flu vaccine we have is for whatever strain is going around that year, which is true, as of right now, but multiple health organizations are working on a universal flu vaccine. With a universal flu vaccine, multi-year and multi-strain protection are given to the recipient.
I think that if the universal flu vaccine is developed, we could stop worrying about another flu pandemic, as we would have a lot of protection.
I agree that the avian flu is probably the flu strain that we have to worry about the most, as it is the most deadly form of flu that has infected humans.
However, you mention that the only flu vaccine we have is for whatever strain is going around that year, which is true, as of right now, but multiple health organizations are working on a universal flu vaccine. With a universal flu vaccine, multi-year and multi-strain protection are given to the recipient.
I think that if the universal flu vaccine is developed, we could stop worrying about another flu pandemic, as we would have a lot of protection.
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Ethan,
I agree that the future might be holding another deadly disease event like Flu in 1918, regardless of how much of vaccines have discovered today. Some viruses can be smarter and hard to treat, given the fact that the world has become a village-it is so easy for a disease to spread all over the continents in one night. Just like what is happening with coronavirus. There is a possibility that a new vaccination could be developed for the next big outbreak, but it will take a while to reach some under-resourced countries or maybe unfordable to some communities. Therefore, the capability of a disease to travel thousands of miles in some hours, unlike in 1918, it possible that the next big Flu might even kill more people than Flu in 1918.
I agree that the future might be holding another deadly disease event like Flu in 1918, regardless of how much of vaccines have discovered today. Some viruses can be smarter and hard to treat, given the fact that the world has become a village-it is so easy for a disease to spread all over the continents in one night. Just like what is happening with coronavirus. There is a possibility that a new vaccination could be developed for the next big outbreak, but it will take a while to reach some under-resourced countries or maybe unfordable to some communities. Therefore, the capability of a disease to travel thousands of miles in some hours, unlike in 1918, it possible that the next big Flu might even kill more people than Flu in 1918.
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