Los Alamos National Laboratory scientists have the flu. In fact, they have virulent forms from all over the world - but all safely quarantined as research data. Los Alamos is compiling the world's most comprehensive database of the genetic information available about the influenza virus. The database will help medical researchers identify and prepare for the next flu pandemic. Twenty years have passed since the last worldwide outbreak.
Young people are susceptible to new attacks by older virus strains.
Everyone is at risk from virus forms that could emerge from animal carriers at any time. Modern commerce and transportation guarantee the disease will rapidly spread around the world. And a pandemic outbreak of a new form will outrun current capacity to design and distribute vaccines. Los Alamos, a U.S. Department of Energy laboratory, is working with the University of California and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to build a database that will track flu virus forms in both animal and human populations, compile viral sequence data for analysis, organize related medical records from around the world and help in the design of new vaccines. There are many viral forms in nature that could initiate a pandemic of huge proportions, affecting young and old alike, and the most advanced and wealthiest countries would have relatively little refuge.