mirrored file at http://SaturnianCosmology.Org/ For complete access to all the files of this collection see http://SaturnianCosmology.org/search.php ========================================================== Home | Up one level Venus Transit: Biohazard? Key Words: astrobiology, bacteria, BHT, exobiology, influenza, life on Venus, microbes, SARS Venus trasiting sun "Of the morning star, the great star, it was said that when it first emerged and came forth, four times it vanished and disappeared quickly. And afterwards it burst forth completely, took its place in full light, became brilliant, and shone white. Like the moon's rays, so did it shine. And when it newly emerged, much fear came over them all were frightened. Everywhere the outlets and openings were closed up. It was said that perchance [the light] might bring a cause of sickness, something evil, when it came to emerge. But sometimes it was regarded as benevolent." (Ancient Mesoamerican recollections of Venus) Sahagun, Bernardino de., The Florentine Codex, General History of the Things of New Spain - Book 7, Salt Lake City, Utah: University of Utah, 1952, p. 11. virus photo ______ Installed 24 May 2004 Latest update 01 November 2004 (New or changed material is in bold.) On June 8, 2004 the planet Venus is scheduled transit the sun during its inferior conjunction with the Earth. Historically, outbreaks of new strains of influenza and influenza related illnesses (SARS for example) have occurred shortly, on average 83 days, after Venus inferior conjunctions.* The following graphic shows a tabular summary of some of these events and a histogram representing the intervals between conjunctions and new outbreaks. *[The author is of the opinion that the average interval is more on the order of 45 days but it is not always possible to get good data as to actual onset dates.] Intervals between Venus Inferior Conjunctions and Flu outbreaks For comparison purposes, the outbreak dates are plotted below on a calendar year basis. [Added 27 May 2004. BS speculation removed 4 June 2004.] Influenza outbreaks by day of year Background information may be found at Influenza 1918, A venus Connection? A new flu (or flu like illness) prediction associated with the upcoming 8 June Venus conjunction is at USA Influenza Activity 2003-2004, Part 2. The gist of the prediction is that 15 to 60 days following the Venus inferior conjunction is a prime time to be on guard for new biological visitors. [Modified 28 May 2004.] Two crucial questions. [Added 27 May 2004.] (1) How can these hypothetical viruses exist in Venus's upper atmosphere without hosts, and (2) why doesn't the harsh radiation environment between Venus and Earth destroy them enroute? Venusian cloud-colony bacteria may serve as the viral hosts and, when clumped together, as radiation shielding viral spacecraft. Here, we're talking a War of the Worlds scenario, only the extraterrestrials are a lot smaller than in the H.G. Wells version.) Before one laughs oneself silly over this bit of seeming science fiction, go to Google.com and do a search on "life on Venus," A direct link to an online news report on the topic of possible Venusian bacteria is the HoustonChronicle.com article Life on Venus may be microbe clouds. Notes on Specific Events Related to the Historical Information Above 1947 Legionnaire's Disease - In 1947 a bacterium (OLDA) was isolated from a sick guinea pig that had been inoculated with the blood of a patient [who had died] from a febrile respiratory illness.(1) (The patient was a soldier stationed at Ft. Bragg in North Carolina.) The author is checking for actual dates, but at present estimates that the patient died about a month (maybe earlier) prior to the bacterium being isolated. The OLDA bacterium eventually came to be identified as the same as that which causes Legionnaires Disease. [Added 5 June 2004.} _____ 2003-2004 Avian influenza H5N1 - The avian influenza H5N1 which swept eastern Asia seemingly was essentially a 2004 event, but a 30 Jan 2004 Reuters article says that "where and when the ... virus appeared is still a mystery, at least to the public." It went on to say that a Geneva based WHO spokesman, Dick Thompson, said samples taken "several months ago" in a country he would not name proved to be the H5N1 virus. Some late-in-the-game web browsing found a ProMED-mail report dated 20 Jan 2003 which informs readers that the initial [laboratory] detection of the new virus was on 26 Dec 2002, and that the estimated date of first infection was 17 Dec 2002. It went on to say that the [current] H5N1 virus [strain] was genetically different from the H5N1 strain which broke out in Hong Kong in 1997. _____ 2003-2004 Influenza A(H3N2) -The Fujian strain of influenza A(H3N2) which struck the U.S. and Canada in late October 2003. On 19 Nov 2003 it was reported that the World Health Organization knew about the Fujian strain H3N2 as early as February 2003. _____ 2003 Avian influenza H5N7, Denmark - The avian influenza H5N7 outbreak [not listed above] which was affecting ducks in Denmark in September of 2003 had never before been identified. [The H5N7 virus was found serendipitously when clinical tests were being done on ducks that had died of Fowl plague.] The initial H5N7 outbreak date is not currently known by this author. Reader inputs are welcome. ___ Global Influenza A(H1N2) 2001 - This note was added on 29 May 2004. The Texas, USA H1N2 specimen collected in July 2001 was preceded by an isolation in India on 30 May 2001. In a CDC report[(2)] on H1N2, researchers reported: "Among the H1N2 viruses we identified, the earliest isolate was A/India/66139/2001 (30 May 2001), which suggests that the reassortment event may have occurred in South Asia in early 2001 or earlier." The 30 May India isolation falls, date-wise, at the end of the author's lookout window of 30-60 days following the March 30th Venus inferior conjunction. (The Texas date corresponded to roughly 105 days following the inferior conjunction). The data table and graphs above have been changed accordingly. See the non-prediction prediction in the opening paragraphs of Global Developments: Spring-Summer 2001. Top See: USA FluWatch.com Activity for the Summers of 2002, 2003, and 2004. For a US map that shows the locations of currently active FluWatch.com zipcodes, See: USA Influenza Activity 2003-2004. USA Influenza Activity 2004-2005 (Histogram only.) _______ What if a new strain of influenza (or influenza-like illness) does hit this summer? Assuming that there is a Venus-viral connection, new bugs (perhaps even including bacterial events) can make their debut as early as 15 days following Venus inferior conjunctions. With regard to the upcoming Venus transit, one might not be surprised to see new illness activity springing up as early as two weeks prior to conjunction. (See the rationale in USA Influenza Activity 2003-2004, Part 2. Either way, if a new influenza related illness pops up in the middle of this summer there would be little chance of developing a vaccine until five or six months after the bug has done its initial damage. Historically, the initial forrays of new influenza viral strains tend to be mild. From the Venus origin viewpoint, this would be because the viruses arrive as damaged goods. It takes the virus (as a population) a few months of R&R (and adaptation?) in its new hosts to get to battle trim. ____ Partial list of health-safety recommendations. [Added 28 May 2004.] If unusual summertime flu-like illnesses do begin occurring in a given area it would behoove people to restrict their outside travel and avoid congested areas. Stay out of the rain as much as possible. (If you do get caught in the rain, don't lick your upper lip! :) Don't let rain get in your drink or on your food.) If one has to be in an area where an outbreak is present, the use of a face mask, as dumb as that looks to the American eye, would be a good idea. [This section will in all likelihood get expanded.] The Survival-Center.com home page has a good section on things to do (and not do) in disease epidemics. It's titled Potential Epidemics Boil in Asia and is located mid-way down on the page. * * * There are over the counter medications that help immune systems to fight off influenza viral infections. (Check with your physician or with health food stores.) Antibiotics should be able handle bacterial incursions. Of course, keeping in good health helps. Acorrespondent of the author, states that the widely used food preservative BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene)* can be used to help defeat viral attacks. The idea is that the anti-oxidant nature of BHT strips the fatty coats off of viruses so that our immune system can do a proper job. The correspondent says that a dosage of 250 milligrams per day keeps the flu at bay. The author thinks it wouldn't hurt to try BHT on victims of hemorrhagic fever (Ebola for example) and people who have been in close contact with the victims. ___ *According to the survival-center.com Food Storage FAQ for Fats and Oils, over the counter BHT is available in many health food stores in 250 milligram gelatin capsules. Twin Laboratories (TwinLab), Rononkoma, NY 11779 is a nationwide retail distributor of over the counter BHT in the United States. [Added 27 May 2004.] * * * See the About Chemistry article BHA and BHT which addresses the questions, "Why are BHA and BHT in foods? Are they safe?" The article has numerous links to studies that report on tests done to check for possible harmful side effects. [Note: This link to the referenced web site in no way constitutes an endorsement by the owners of that site with regard to any opinions expressed on this page.] (Caution! A generally recognized success of BHT against a spectrum of viral maladies might lead to a scaling back of conventional vaccines production. The ensuing fiscal battles could get nasty. ) Current Health Events Possibly Related to June 8 Venus Transit 22 June 2004 - Legionellosis, Hospital - Spain (Zaragoza) Seven patients infected with legionellosis in Zaragoza have been hospitalized in community health centers, and three are in serious condition. Meanwhile, the Public Health Department detected the bacterium in two refrigerations towers of the Hospital Clinico de Zaragoza, and it is currently assessing 12 nearby towers. . . The first case was detected on 10 June 2004. . . the incubation period is 2 to 10 days . . . The outbreak "has to do with the current situation, and it is not related to prior attacks," said Dr. Gomez, who affirmed that the situation is under control . . . ProMED Digest Monday, June 21 2004 Volume 2004 : Number 232 07 July 2004 - Plague - Turkmenistan (Dashoguz): suspected (02) 1st cases of bubonic plague in 20 years have been reported in Turkmenistan - --------------------------------------------------------- An epidemic of plague began in May 2004. [Outbreak date not given.] There have already been more than 20 deaths in Turkmenistan. News about the plague was delivered by a German humanitarian aid company that works at the Uzbek-Turkmen border in the north Karakums in the Tashhovuz region. According to a specialist, this is the most serious outbreak in the last 20-30 years. . . . Quarantine was introduced in several of the hospitals of Ashgabad, and public [swimming] pools are closed. [This plague may be "homegrown." According to a ProMED-mail contributor, the area of Turkmenistan is an endemic focus of plague.] Source: ProMED Digest Wednesday, July 7 2004 Volume 2004 : Number 255 07 July 2004 - Avian influenza - Eastern Asia (85): China, Thialand China suffers outbreak of avian flu months after appearing to stamp out disease - ---------------------------------------------------------------- China reported a new outbreak of bird flu on Tue 7 Jul 2004, and Thailand said it had a suspected case; signs of a return of the highly contagious disease that health officials fear could sicken humans. It was China's 1st report of the avian illness since it declared it had "stamped out" the disease nearly 4 months ago. Tests at a farm in the southeastern province of Anhui have confirmed that chickens died of bird flu, the government said on state-run television. In Thailand, authorities said they suspect a new outbreak of bird flu at a farm in the central province of Ayutthaya. Thousands of chickens at the farm have died. Bird flu has also been confirmed on farms in Viet Nam in recent days. [Again, these outbreaks may be "home grown."] "It is not surprising that it has come back," said Roy Wadia of the World Health Organization in Beijing. "It stays in the environment a long time." ProMED Digest Wednesday, July 7 2004 Volume 2004 : Number 255. Source: AP & Canada Press via Canada.com [edited] Excerpts from OIE (International Organization of Epizooties) follow-up reports on China and Thailand HPAI (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza) outbreaks. China: Estimated date of primary infection - 28 June 2004. Source of agent/origin: possibly transmitted by migratory birds and wild waterfowl. Thailand: Estimated date of primary infection - 4 July 2004. Source of agent/origin of infection is under investigation. [A ProMED-mail contributor says that Indonesia (along with the above mentioned countries) is also experiencing renewed problems with avian influenza.] ProMED Digest Wednesday, July 7 2004 Volume 2004 : Number 255. Source: OIE Disease Alert. 27 July 2004 - USA On Tuesday 20 July, FluWatch.com placed four of its six active zipcodes in the United States into an inactive status. These were Contra Costa Co. CA 94524, Clinton Co. IA 52732, Kent Co. RI 02816, and Tarrant Co. TX 76133. That sounds like good news but it could also raise the spectre that some new bug, not Influenza A or B, hit the streets and has suppressed the more common maladies. References (1) Joseph E. McDade, Don J. Brenner and Marilyn Bozeman, "Legionnaire's Disease Bacterium Isolated in 1947," Annals of Internal Medicine, 90 659-661, (1979). (2) Xiyan Xu, Catherine B. Smith, Bruce A. Mungall, Stephen E. Lindstrom, Henrietta E. Hall, Kanta Subbarao, Nancy J. Cox, and Alexander Klimov. "Intercontinental Circulation of Human Influenza A(H1N2) Viruses during the 2001-2002 Influenza Season," Concise Communication, Influenza Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta Georgia. Page 490, [This web page, which was for temporary student use, has been removed. Thanks to web host for the "heads up."] Shade Tree Physics Robert Fritzius rsf1 at ebicom.net webcounter Top