Blythe Terrell

That's a version that'll probably be easier to get into people. Uh-huh. And we do know that this bird flu can get certain mutations like this out in the wild. Because you know those two patients, Wendy, who got really sick and one of them died? Yeah, yeah. They were sick for so long that scientists think the virus did mutate inside their bodies.

And when they looked at the virus's genetics, like some of the virus in those people did have mutations that might have made it easier to spread from person to person. Wow. Which is interesting because it didn't. in those cases. Yes, right. Which brings me to perhaps like a kind of surprisingly optimistic point. Some good news, if you'll have it. I'll take it. I'll take some good news.

And when they looked at the virus's genetics, like some of the virus in those people did have mutations that might have made it easier to spread from person to person. Wow. Which is interesting because it didn't. in those cases. Yes, right. Which brings me to perhaps like a kind of surprisingly optimistic point. Some good news, if you'll have it. I'll take it. I'll take some good news.

So like we've seen it mutate. It's gotten into a fair number of people. It hasn't yet broken out as far as we can tell in any meaningful way. And Richard told me that like scientists are like really debating what that means.

So like we've seen it mutate. It's gotten into a fair number of people. It hasn't yet broken out as far as we can tell in any meaningful way. And Richard told me that like scientists are like really debating what that means.

They say it never can?

They say it never can?

They say it would have happened by now if it could. Right. Huh.

They say it would have happened by now if it could. Right. Huh.

Right. Yeah. And there's this other thing that could happen that could screw us on this. It is called reassortment. And it's where different types of flus are kind of able to mix together. So the deal with that is like, say I get infected with the regular human flu and I'm a poultry worker and I go in to work and I get exposed to bird flu.

Right. Yeah. And there's this other thing that could happen that could screw us on this. It is called reassortment. And it's where different types of flus are kind of able to mix together. So the deal with that is like, say I get infected with the regular human flu and I'm a poultry worker and I go in to work and I get exposed to bird flu.

And like both of these flus managed to get inside my body at the same time. What can happen is that they can kind of mix and match inside of me. And that is reassortment. And that's actually like that process has triggered, one scientist told me, basically all the major flu pandemics in modern history. Oh.

And like both of these flus managed to get inside my body at the same time. What can happen is that they can kind of mix and match inside of me. And that is reassortment. And that's actually like that process has triggered, one scientist told me, basically all the major flu pandemics in modern history. Oh.

It always is, isn't it, on Science Versus? Mm-hmm. I mean, and overall, big picture, like, when we talk about these viruses and how this flu is mutating and what could happen, where it could go, how it could mix with other viruses... What scientists told me is that it's a numbers game.

It always is, isn't it, on Science Versus? Mm-hmm. I mean, and overall, big picture, like, when we talk about these viruses and how this flu is mutating and what could happen, where it could go, how it could mix with other viruses... What scientists told me is that it's a numbers game.

You know, the more chances you give it, the more you give it chances to have virus sex, the more likely it is that it'll mutate into something that I can give to you and that you can pass along.

You know, the more chances you give it, the more you give it chances to have virus sex, the more likely it is that it'll mutate into something that I can give to you and that you can pass along.

Here is how Seema is thinking about it at this moment.

Here is how Seema is thinking about it at this moment.

Let's see, where's Dr. Richard Webby's worry meter?