Scientists
have dug up other victims of the flu pandemic, but they were buried in
permafrost conditions which did not allow recovery of the complete genetic
code. Miss Burn, however, was buried in an airtight led-lined coffin that
should have helped preserve her body. Scientists are hopeful that a
naturally mummified body will contain a better copy of the genetic make-up
of the flu virus.
Miss
Burn was 20 at the time she died. She had just returned from France where
she had been an ambulance driver for the Red Cross during World War I. Her
living relatives have given permission for her body to be disinterred, and
scientists are presently awaiting approval from health and church
officials. When the exhumation is done, scientists will be wearing
bio-hazard suits in case any live strains of the virus are present in the
coffin. Clearly, they plan to take no chances in their quest to solve this
mystery.
