Did you hear the one about green monkeys and swine flu?
Since spring the conspiracy theorists have been having a field day. It's been bonus time! Between the swine flu and healthcare reform, it's like a conspiracy theorist's dream. And too many of us are buying-in....
I received an email from a reader telling me that diseased African Green Monkeys are being used by H1N1 swine flu vaccine manufacturers so they can ERADICATE THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF THE EARTH!
Hmmm.... seriously? I could not believe it, but hey - I don't judge till I learn the facts.
So, I checked in with a gentleman who has helped me learn about other aspects of medicine, Dr. Nicholas Bennett, a pediatric infectious diseases fellow and researcher at Upstate Medical University -- who explained the facts. And -- surprising to me -- African Green Monkeys do play a role in bio-medical research! But it's all for the good. (I repeat - it's all good!)
Dr. Bennett found the source of the misguided theory and responded to me:
(The suggestion that swine flu vaccine is being created from diseased green monkeys) ... is, of course, complete nonsense. And as I thought it is referring to using cell lines, not actual monkeys. The author is scientifically illiterate.
The cell line in question may well be the "Vero" cell line, in use for scientific research purposes since 1962. It was created from a normal, healthy, adult African Green Monkey. No additional monkey's have been harmed since 1962 as the cell line is immortal and so self-propagating.
Influenza A does grow in Vero cells (influenza A is the type that includes most seasonal flu, and the swine origin and avian origin flu viruses that people hear about in the media). However, currently only one US vaccine is produced using Vero cells, the inactivated polio vaccine, in use for the past 19 years in the US. Other vaccines that have used Vero cells include the inactivated rabies vaccine and the live polio vaccine, but these are not used in the US (the company is based in France and these vaccines are licensed there).
There are no plans that I am aware of to use cell lines for routine or swine influenza vaccine production, although it would be great if we could as it would speed up and simplify vaccine production a great deal. One company uses a recombinant virus system to make a live flu nasal spray but uses a specially created cell line for this - the Vero cells apparently aren't as good for all influenza strains.
Of course it takes a lot less effort to say "diseased green monkeys used to make flu vaccine" than to actually learn about the facts...
So there you go... as far as the root of the conspiracy theory is concerned.
HOWEVER! There is much more here of interest to patients and that is the ridiculous notion that vaccine manufacturers would want to eradicate the world population. Here's why it's ridiculous and why anyone would say it's true. As with so much about healthcare, we must follow the money.
Yes -- follow the money! Why on earth would any company want to eradicate the very people it makes money from? The entire point of being in business is to make money, so why would you be interested in killing off your money source? Eradicate the patients? Then you eradicate your income. That makes NO sense.
So why drum up the fear? Easy. Those very people who are out there scaring patients with the green monkey theories and others -- are the ones who are making the money! They write up (or talk about - because some are radio hosts) frightening theories, their assertions go viral (so to speak) through email and video, and get forwarded and forwarded -- so they get all that attention -- and all of a sudden these unknown conspiracy theorists have many more people paying attention -- and advertisers flock to them! So yes -- THEY are the ones making money from all this.
So that's today's lesson... when someone sends you something that is just so weird, or so scary, or it seems almost unbelievable -- Follow the Money! Then do your research, too.
The facts are scary enough, thanks.
• Here's more info about the role of African green monkeys (called Vervets) in biomedical science.
• Be a smart patient. Follow the money.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Learn more or join the conversation!
NEWSLETTER | FORUM | BIO | TWITTER
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Photo ©Wikipedia
I disagree with your doctor that the Vero Cell from the African Green Monkey is safe. When I first learned of this, the first thing that popped into my head is AIDS and other autoimmune diseases. The articles regarding the Vero Cell African Green Monkeys said that they use the cells from the kidneys. Please let your viewers decide. Dr. Russell Blaylock, a well respected Neurosurgeon has come out on the dangers of this and other vaccinations, because of the harm it is doing to the brain. Dr. Mercola also warns people of the dangers of the H1N1 Vaccine. I have done extensive research regarding Vero Cell, and there have been many vaccines recalled. I say it is not safe, and it is not accurately stated in your article. As for following the money, the Pharmaceutical Companies are the one’s with all the money and power. They will make billions from the Pandemic and the vaccines, and then they will make money off of the autoimmune diseases and cancer it may cause. Please let your readers decide for themselves. Type in “H1N1 Vaccine Deaths” in a search and do research of your own. Also, do a search on “African Green Monkey Vero Cell.” I would like to know if the doctor and his family members plan on getting the H1N1 Vaccine. I personally do not trust the World Health Organization (WHO), Eugenics Society, and the UN. Dr. Russell Blaylock, a well respected Neurosurgeon has also come out against the vaccinations that are being given, because of the dangerous ingredients they are putting into vaccines and some vaccinations using the Vero Cell and Squalene.
I say, “Follow the real money and power.” The news stations are controlled by the Pharmaceutical Companies. The Pharmaceutical Companies pay their wages. To to the various news sites, and watch television. It is one commercial or advertisement after another. In order to find truth, it takes a lot of research.
As fantastical and farfetched as it may sound, there are many globalists pushing for a huge reduction in the world’s population under the guise of environmental issues. They’ve had their goals in place for DECADES. There was an attorney years ago who left her career for many years to research and write about it. She’d read huge quantities of books written by those who have these goals and documented it. The United Nations is “the” organization that wants a new world order and they definitely push for population control. The writings of globalists promote euthanasia, sterilization, abortion, forced family size and a “cleansing action” for those that won’t go along with their agenda. Many actually believe they are a new species “homo noeticus”, a more advanced intelligent species! They want to create their own vision of utopia with their more evolved species. The truth is it’s Nazism reborn. So with people like this in positions of power (something they say is true), people need to do their research and realize the possibility of genetically altered germs or dangerous vaccines. It would be hard for a global leader to take control with such a huge population. The new world order IS about global government with a world leader. World leaders are NOW (2009) talking about a new world order, so it definitely is no longer in the realm of conspiracy theory. The swine flu is dangerous, but it sounds like the vaccine is as well. It’s a very precarious position for people to be in. Vitamin D and other supplements can help build the immune system.
Check out US patent no. 5911998, 6025182, 6117667, 5646033 and then tell me what you think.
What about the mercury that’s supposed to be in vaccines?
Is a little of that nothing to worry about?
living cells are under controll of a complex protein signaling system. the vaccines can never be completely cleaned up. there are always traces of protein contaminations / RNA,DNA and fragments. some of these contaminants are known and have a history. look up sv40,pRb,p53. the original “monkey virus” contamination from the salks vaccine was never entirely cleaned up . it was carried over to the sabins vaccine too,by use of the same contaminated polio seed strains . the sv40 can alter the function of tumor suppressor genes within the cells or trigger cell cycle regulation . this is at least enough to say this contributes to cancers . and some will say aids is a blood cancer . yea i spent alot of time studdying this stuff over the last 7 years as i have NHL. i looked at the full history of vaccine technology. i also was injected with salks and fed sabins sugar cubes . it has been said this technology has been one of the worst medical mistakes of our age . nobel laureate john enders told salk how the japs used to grow vaccines and biologic agents and he never intended for this to be used for vaccines used on humans ,however salk had different ideas . salk thought he could kill the extraneous viruses but for sv40 it didn’t work . the formalin treatment did not “kill” sv40,there were 2 strains at least . this author above is full of crap. , al7