An Important Announcement from the KRF Group
On July 10th, 2009 a KRF Group representative was informed of an unusual event at a small Bonobo research facility in the Central Congo Basin. According to local officials two of the primates began to show signs of illness. Facility staff were preparing to isolate the primates when both began violently attacking the other seven primates in their holding area. At the conclusion of the attacks all nine involved primates were dead
In response to this event, KRF Group leveraged it’s unique, self-funded, BSL-4 laboratory and other resources to quickly undertake an investigation to determine if a viral infection, notably the emerging Z1 virus, played a role in this unfortunate incident. Rapid identification and containment of infected populations are critical as little is understood about this highly contagious influenza variant beyond its ability to trigger extremely violent behavior in the infected and its associated 100% mortality rate.
The KRF Group funded research team represents, to our knowledge, the only group of physicians and scientists in the world who are completely dedicated to understanding and combating the Z1 virus. They are ideally suited for this undertaking. It must be said that the entire team performed heroically and with great speed to investigate these deaths. However, their findings were inconclusive.
The highly variable mutation capability of the Z1 virus presents significant detection and mitigation challenges. Its ability to rapidly and systematically assume the characteristics and protein structures of many other influenza variants, such as H1N1, renders it almost undetectable until the unique and highly destructive subset of symptoms emerge. The result, in this case, is that the research team can not announce a scientifically verifiable conclusion despite additional compelling evidence from eyewitnesses.
While scientific standards may compel us to reserve judgment we must also take into consideration the unprecedented risk to public health that is posed by such a virus. It is for this reason that, after much debate and consultation, we have determined that we must inform the public of the possibility that the primates were indeed infected with Z1 and that uncontrolled transmission may be occurring at this time.
Our Evolving Mission
KRF Group moved into action with the discovery of Z1 but the initial mission was driven by scientific and public health concerns. For much of that time the work occurred outside of the public’s view. The recent launch of Zombie Truth, in an attempt to inform the public about this emerging threat, represented a significant change in the mission and an acknowledgment that Z1 might possibly be circulating in increasingly virulent mutations such as H1N1.
With this recent event, and these new possibilities, we feel that it is vital that the public begin or accelerate preparedness efforts. In the days ahead KRF Group, and the team behind its associated ZombieTruth.com website, will launch new initiatives to encourage preparedness:
- KRF Group will be appointing a liaison officer to facilitate discussion between public health officials and our Z1 research staff. The office is expected to be staffed by a KRF Group Public Health Associate in Houston, Texas by August 1, 2009.
- KRF Group will continue to expand preparedness education and awarness efforts, primarily through its groundbreaking site ZombieTruth.com.
Contact
Further announcements concerning this effort will be made available at ZombieTruth.com. Public health officials, or others, who wish to contact the KRF Group liaison officer are encouraged to forward initial requests to the KRF Group public relations office presence on Twitter.
