WHOA! UH-OH! OH, MY!: VERY BAD NEWS FROM ASIA JUST GOT WORSE: H7N9 IS NOW IN BEIJING

A girl of seven is being treated in hospital in Beijing, in the first case of H7N9 "bird flu" reported by Chinese officials in the capital. 

The child, whose parents are poultry traders, developed a fever, sore throat and headache on Thursday. Her condition is said to be stable.

APPARENTLY, SHE DIDN'T HAVE DIRECT CONTACT WITH POULTRY.

SO THIS MIGHT INDICATE THAT THIS STRAIN OF THE VIRUS IS MUCH MORE COMMUNICABLE.

AND DANGEROUS.

TIME TO QUARANTINE CHINA.

I WONDER WHICH DISASTER WILL HAPPEN FIRST: 

A BIRD FLU PANDEMIC KILLING MILLIONS OR A NUCLEAR WAR KILLING MILLIONS?

SIGH...

9 hours later:

THIS DOESN’T SOUND GOOD: New bird flu strain seen adapting to mammals, humans. “A genetic analysis of the avian flu virus responsible for at least nine human deaths in China portrays a virus evolving to adapt to human cells, raising concern about its potential to spark a new global flu pandemic.” These things usually fizzle, or evolve to be less lethal — but not always.
Posted at 6:35 pm by Glenn Reynolds