People are actively attempting to infect themselves with the “mild” strain of H1N1, hoping to give themselves immunity in case more severe strains appear in the future. Resonates with the DIY Bio folks. Also, another example of the power of the 1918 pandemic analogy: the rationalization is that the 1918 flu had a mild spring wave, and two severe fall and winter waves. My sense is that there is no reason to assume this strain will behave similarly.
COLLABORATORY: VITAL SYSTEMS SECURITY
The Vital Systems Security collaboration examines how, today, security is being constituted as an object of knowledge, intervention, and political reflection. It proposes that the security of vital systems such as energy, transportation, communication and health is one norm in relationship to which security is being reproblematized. A central goal of the collaboration is to examine these issues through collective, conceptually driven inquiry that addresses rapidly developing contemporary problems.
I haven’t seen any credible accounts of people doing this, just what seems like a mainstream media effort to gin up stories about swine flu.