# can we end flu epidemics by spreading artificial benign flu of the same type?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-end-flu-epidemics-by-spreading-artificial-benign-flu-of-the-same-type/584569>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 7, 2011, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-end-flu-epidemics-by-spreading-artificial-benign-flu-of-the-same-type/584569 "2011-06-07T00:35:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![code\_grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@code\_grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/code_grey)\
**Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-end-flu-epidemics-by-spreading-artificial-benign-flu-of-the-same-type/584569/1 "2011-06-07T00:35:19Z")

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in a former thread on the issue of deadly flu epidemics [why do flu epidemics, like 1918 one, end? - Factual Questions - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=567441) it has been said that such epidemics eventually end because of the natural process of appearance of benign strains that confer immunity

[QUOTE=Blake]

So while the original strain virus remains infective for a few weeks, and can only readily infect those nursing the sick for most f that time, the less lethal form can potentially remain infective for months, and during that time can be passed to multiple strangers. As a result the mutant strain infects orders of magnitude more people.

However the two strains are still very closely related, and once a person has fought of one strain they are immune to the other. Because far more people are infected by the mutant strain, the original lethal strain is rapidly outcompeted, and eventually becomes extinct.

[/QUOTE]

Well, so if this happens via natural process, why can’t we do this artificially for any specific deadly flu strain we are dealing with? Are some strains naturally or artificially so made that it is hard to make a harmless strain out of them?

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**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\
**Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-end-flu-epidemics-by-spreading-artificial-benign-flu-of-the-same-type/584569/2 "2011-06-07T00:47:11Z")

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That’s pretty much what flu vaccines are, as I understand it. Except they use dead virus to ensure it stays under control.

As for the larger issue of replacing/displacing dangerous wild diseases with safer versions; while there’s been research in that direction for other diseases, I have my doubts that it would work well for something that changes as much season by season as influenza. You safe, tame flu virus wouldn’t _stay_ safe and tamed.