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Sunspark
This means the virus has now mutated enough that it was able to jump from cow or another source to pig which is not good news. Pigs are mixing chambers for this sort of thing where flus become fitter for human hosts.

This one is going to do damage if it becomes more fit. It is almost 100% lethal to ferrets due to central nervous system issues. Ferrets like mink have similar respiratory systems to humans.

We are not ferrets, but if it starts spreading it would be wise to not automatically assume that it can just be ignored. Most people already have damaged immune systems due to SARS2 and you've all heard of the idiom of the straw and the camel's back.

AnimalMuppet
> Most people already have damaged immune systems due to SARS2

Can you support that statement?

Sunspark
Yes, t-cell depletion which has resulted in a rise in the rates of other diseases showing up that were lower or under control before.

The UK government publishes data with counts of various things that you can make graphs from.

squidgedcricket
Could that T cell depletion have been caused by isolation and masking during the pandemic rather than covid directly?
0dayz
In what way would this hypothesis make sense?
squidgedcricket
Decreased exposure to pathogens
0dayz
While in a way true, I highly doubt it would be that significant unless there are studies showing that.
snovymgodym
> Most people already have damaged immune systems due to SARS2

How do you figure?

wumeow
The article mentions 36 people have already gotten it and their symptoms were mild.
dopylitty
While that’s true it’s good to be vigilant.

Viruses are constantly evolving and flu can also exchange parts of its genome with other flu strains (reassortment).

It may become more (or less) virulent by chance while evolving more fitness for human bodies so past results don’t guarantee future results.