Five Mutations in H5N1 Bird Flu Will Make It Transmissible to Humans

This is truly worrying news.  The Spanish flu killed millions of people in 1918, and it is possible that another pandemic could come our way.  Scientists have discovered that the flu strain H5N1 needs just five mutations to become transmissible to humans.  What this means is that presently, H5N1 is not a threat to humans, but if the virus acquires the necessary gene mutations, it will make the jump to humans and could spread like wildfire.

http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-bird-flu-five-mutations-20140410,0,6818032.story

Scientists Revive 30,000 Year-Old Virus

Scientists have revived a 30,000 year-old virus from Siberian ice.  This virus, named Pithovirus sibericum, even resumed its infectious activity after being thawed out.  It is also a very large virus, measuring 1.5 micrometers (that's larger than some bacteria).

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/giant-virus-resurrected-from-30000-year-old-ice/