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 Mummy May Help Solve Flu Virus Mystery

 

 

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.

 

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Source: straitstimes.com (12/13/02)

 

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Latest Update: 31 July 2008

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