Is the new corvid variant actually American?

IMO that kind of question is all bound up with the B word, Gagajo - other countries - even in Europe, funnily enough! have their own problems so it’s only human nature to enjoy thinking that others are/have it that much worse.

During a visit to France in the relatively free summer, and in Amsterdam in the previous October, I very firmly told anyone who was dying to tell me how mad we all were (re Brexit) that I was not discussing the B word AT ALL.

There was much less of this in France, but in Amsterdam even one of the bloody taxi drivers was at it!

We were trying to enjoy a few days with some now very scattered old friends (one of whom very sadly died on Christmas Eve ?) - the last thing I wanted then was any more of the blasted B word.
(In case you’re jumping to any conclusions, I did vote Remain.)

I agree*MawBe*. Dare I say it, Switzerland's attitude can often be very superior. It is a beautiful country, but it has got things wrong too, past and present.
The UK takes a lot of criticism and often shrugs it off without condemnation. It would be awful if we felt guilty and shameful about every move we make. Luckily I think we are forward looking and get over things quicker than others may.
Just an opinion. Though some may disagree.

I do agree with all others here, let's try to get on top of this virus whatever. That's what matters at the moment.

I am sounding like a fan club now, Growstuf, but I couldn't agree more with your comment,

The attitude of other countries towards the UK wouldn't surprise you, if you've been following foreign media sources.

Think of the attitude towards China or some other countries. There's no reason why other countries wouldn't have an equally unfair and unbalanced view of the UK.

Remember the vitriol thrown on here at China a year ago?

MawBe, the Swiss press ARE castigating the Valais commune/police for not being vigilent or fast enough to prevent the flood of tourists out of Verbier. That criticism made it all the way into the Swiss English language press.

GagaJo

I agre Growstuff. I think we just happened to find it first.

I think you'll find, Petra, that the original post, is from Yahoo news, not me.

PS. My daughter's partner does DNA sequencing, so I'm a bit biased.

MawBe

GagaJo

To a certain point, I agree. But we have become the pariah of Europe (I am abroad and all anyone says to me at the moment is, OMG, what is wrong with the UK?!).

What is it about Switzerland’s attitude to the U.K.?
There was evidence of distinct anti U.K. discrimination in the incident of the U.K. skiers quarantined.

One British chalet owner, who does not want to be named, said police knocked on his door on December 22 to check whether his family was quarantining.

We filed all the relevant registrations with the Canton [of Valais], but the police still came to our door after our quarantine was finished and told my son, who was revising, that we were breaking the law,” he said. “When he showed them that our quarantine was over, and that this was registered with the Canton, they admitted that they didn’t even look at those records
And even here on GN we hear no end of criticism from other sources.

The attitude of other countries towards the UK wouldn't surprise you, if you've been following foreign media sources.

Think of the attitude towards China or some other countries. There's no reason why other countries wouldn't have an equally unfair and unbalanced view of the UK.

I agre Growstuff. I think we just happened to find it first.

I think you'll find, Petra, that the original post, is from Yahoo news, not me.

Jane43

I agree Witzend, viruses mutate naturally to survive so it will happen world wide irrespective of which country it is found in first.

All living organisms mutate naturally, not in order to survive, but their survival is a result of mutation. They're not intelligent beings.

The more frequently a virus is transmitted, the more frequently small changes will be made. Many of the changes don't survive, but a handful do and will crowd out those less adapted to their environment.

GagaJo

To a certain point, I agree. But we have become the pariah of Europe (I am abroad and all anyone says to me at the moment is, OMG, what is wrong with the UK?!).

What is it about Switzerland’s attitude to the U.K.?
There was evidence of distinct anti U.K. discrimination in the incident of the U.K. skiers quarantined.

One British chalet owner, who does not want to be named, said police knocked on his door on December 22 to check whether his family was quarantining.

We filed all the relevant registrations with the Canton [of Valais], but the police still came to our door after our quarantine was finished and told my son, who was revising, that we were breaking the law,” he said. “When he showed them that our quarantine was over, and that this was registered with the Canton, they admitted that they didn’t even look at those records
And even here on GN we hear no end of criticism from other sources.

GagaJo

To a certain point, I agree. But we have become the pariah of Europe (I am abroad and all anyone says to me at the moment is, OMG, what is wrong with the UK?!).

It's nothing to do with British exceptionalism or, conversely, something being wrong with the UK.

The UK has some of the best genome sequencing in the world. My response to people who think there's something wrong with the UK would be that our scientists discovered it first because they're good. (I'm not sure that would work for anything else that's wrong with the country .)

I agree with the other posters who say it doesn't really matter where it originated. What does matter is that the rate of transmission needs to be slowed down urgently. The more a virus is transmitted, the more opportunities there are for mutation.

GagaJo
It's nice that your in the company of people that share your views of the uk, isn't it.

I agree Witzend, viruses mutate naturally to survive so it will happen world wide irrespective of which country it is found in first.

Was Gagajo specifically blaming the US in her post?
I didn’t read it as that, rather that she was just making an observation.

GagaJo

To a certain point, I agree. But we have become the pariah of Europe (I am abroad and all anyone says to me at the moment is, OMG, what is wrong with the UK?!).

Well I hope you're telling them we're fine GagaJo and will rise triumphant!
It seems to me it's always easy for nations to blame others when things go wrong, to even commiserate in bad times, but never to rejoice in success and give praise.
Rather like some people.

Yes, that is true Witzend.

I imagine that if it’s mutated naturally here, it will have done the same elsewhere.
Though I dare say there will always be those who find it convenient to blame another country.

To a certain point, I agree. But we have become the pariah of Europe (I am abroad and all anyone says to me at the moment is, OMG, what is wrong with the UK?!).

I agree with Esspee wholeheartedly.

All that really matters is that we find away to beat it. I tend to agree with Espee.

I am not particularly concerned about where it came from. I just want it to go away.
Apportioning “blame” is pointless.

'Scuse the spelling. I am back to birds again.