What is the main source of swine flu or brunt of the present? This question came to the fore owing to the affirmation of an Australian researcher that H1N1 swine flu virus may have evolved as the result of human error. The bizarre notion did create mayhem among the pertinent section of researchers and some of them were even found bewildered. However, World Health Organization (WHO) has disposed of this observation and according to it, swine flu virus did emanate from a natural cause instead of any human error or laboratory accident. It is the noted Australian virologist, Adrian Gibbs, who came out with the sensational revelation.

Speaking on the virologist’s assertion, Dr. Keiji Fukuda, the agency’s Deputy Director General, stated emphatically, “We took this very seriously.” “But the evidence suggests that this is a naturally occurring virus, not a laboratory-derived virus.” What is more, Dr. Fukuda did also advocate the drug companies’ endeavor to make a generic version of the antiviral drug Tamiflu. It is said that this bid will benefit several impoverished countries who are already affected but are suffering from the deficiency of stockpiles of the drug. Almost 6,500 confirmed cases of the new H1N1 flu have been reported from 33 countries, and 65 people have died, the W.H.O. said. About 4,300 confirmed and probable cases, with 3 deaths, were reported in the United States.

Let’s go back to WHO’s observations once again. One the word of Dr. Fukuda, a panel comprising cerebral and exceedingly competent experts had been involved in the examination and concluded that “the hypothesis does not really stand up to scrutiny.” As stated by the experts, lysine residues and mutation rates were typical and many swine flus look as if unrelated because not enough pigs are tested each year.

But, it must be accepted that the virus rumor, thanks to the conjecture of Adrian J. Gibbs, has already made the damage and more strategic endeavors are needed to furbish it up. Nevertheless Dr. Fukuda does not want that genetic sequences be kept off public databases. “This is healthy,” he said. “This is much better than dealing with rumors where you don’t know where the mistake comes from and can’t correct it.”