If evolution is true then how do you explain the flu?

Question

Prominent creation scientist Em Adjineri has been studying influenza and has discovered that it disproves evolution. If evolution were true then the influenza virus would mutate rapidly and we'd need to get new flu shots every year.

But we don't need new flu shots every year. If we did, people would be lining up at clinic to get a flu shot sometime during the fall months. But this obviously doesn't happen.

To those of you who will say "But Vishal, this does happen! We do get new flu shots every year!" you don't realize that what doctors call a "flu shot" is actually a "spending shot." That's why you get them just before Christmas.

They drive people into a frenzy of spending to increase economic activity during the winter months. It's all a plot by the wicked atheists to push capitalism on the unsuspecting masses.

Since the influenza virus doesn't mutate, evolution is false.

Sure thing, St. Alia. We need to find someone to do a civil ceremony because I burst into flames if I enter a Church. :)

My source is Em Adjineri.

Say that sentence out loud to get what I mean.

Answer 1

Right, just ignore the doctors and scientists who actually work on vaccines... It's all a conspiracy against you. Sure.... All conspiracies: Flu Vaccine, Rabies Vaccine, Smallpox Vaccine, MMR Vaccine, & Tetanus Vaccine.

Sidenote: I do not believe in getting the flu vaccine because I have a normal immunity and I prefer just to fight it off and build up the immunities if I get it, but there are immunocompromised others (the elderly and babies) who need it.

...By the way, tell Em Adjineri congrats... for being able to twist almost any scientific conspiracy theory into an argument against evolution.

Answer 2

First of all I don't believe you, you seem adimant that the influenza virus is not evolving, yet you have no evidence to back it up. Second, I don't believe the person you cite as a prominant creation scientist is really very prominant. Third you say yourself you do get a new flu shot every year and you somehow expect me to believe it is a spending shot. Fourth, THE FLU VIRUS IS EVOLVING, that you have not proved wrong, thus if I use the same logic you do that would mean evolution exists.

Answer 3

This is wrong in so many ways that it is hard to know where to begin.
1) Yes, influenza virus does mutate.
2) Yes, we do get new flu shots every year that are a combination of the 3 viruses believed to be most likely to propagate. Some years, the scientists at CDC get it right, and some years, not so right.
3) No, there is no such thing as a "spending shot": if there were, there would also be such a thing as an "intelligence and reasoning shot" and the world would not be in such a mess.

Answer 4

The influenza virus does mutate that is how you can contract it more that once - like a cold which is also a virus. AIDS is another example of a mutating virus. Mutation is a an evolutionary process the rate that it happens doesn't determine whether it evolves or not. Everything evolves. The vaccines are used to trigger an immune response to preempt an infection hopefully decreasing its effects. If you know nothing of science, maybe you should ask what evolution is before trying to use science to disprove it...

Answer 5

You state that "creation scientist" (at best a contradiction in terms) has been ----

You offer no documentation at all of the science or the "Flu shot plot".

Viruses do mutate. The fact that some have not, as yet, does not prove anything. Mutation is a random process, not (at this time) a mathematically predictable certainty. Although, I suspect that, with enough data, it will eventually become possible to mathematically predict the probability of non-functional, deleterious and beneficial (to the mutating organism) mutations.

Answer 6

Correct. Facts are the data and observations. We have observed evolution, the change in allele frequencies over time, in many different organisms: viruses, bacteria, moths, mosquitoes, lizards, mice, ect. We have also observed speciation, the divergence of two populations. The fossil record and genetics all point to common descent. The theory of evolution perfectly explains all available data. More importantly, it can be used to make testable predictions, which are extremely accurate. A theory is worthless if it cannot serve as the foundation for future work.

Answer 7

Um....this in no way disproves evolution. Not EVERY organism mutates to fit its environment. Hence extinct animals such as dodos, etc...Evolution is also not instantaneous, just because influenza happens to have a high reproductive rate and a short generation time does not mean that it will evolve instantly; it could take months, years, or it may not happen at all. Evolution is not a certainty for EVERY organism, but it certainly exists. Geez, what a silly argument!
Edit: And its pretty sad that this is not an obvious satire, you have no idea how many times something like this argument has been presented to me.

Answer 8

you have your facts wrong. not everyone needs a flu shot. its important for the elderly and immune deficient people to get it as getting the flu could mean death. typically (atleast where i live) the flu shot that is offered protects against 3 stains of the flu virus that researchers predict could be dominant this flu season. every year it varies and the vaccine changes acordingly. so we are getting a "new" flu shot every year. if there are constatly new strains of influenza that we need to protect against, thats pretty clear evidence that it is evolving. in canada for the elderly, immune deficient and health care workers, the shot is free. for everyone else, the shot is available but there is a cost of like $30. it by no means is pushed on anyone that wouldn't die from the flu. if there is anything else in your argument i missed disproving let me know.

Answer 9

Such total ignorance!!!!!!!!!!

The flu shot is totally different each year because there are so many evolved types of flu!!!!

The shot chosen is the one thought most likely to appear. If one of the other types happens along the shot is entirely useless.

Do you not realize that using totally false information actually proves your case wrong and brings ridicule on your beliefs.

Non Christians are well aware of science and live in the factual world.

Your fantasies harm your religion - Time to pray for forgiveness and start studying for a little education!!!!

Answer 10

Since you didn't cite your source there isnt much reading for me to do. All I can say is that as far as I know the flu virus does change and there are new vaccinations each year to be received. I still have to get mine this year but I always get it, each year. I don't know if it prevents me from influenza but I get it all the same because I'd rather not risk sickness during exams.

Answer 11

This is one of the most BIZARRE posts I have read yet. The weird and wacky world of Christian fundamentalists really knows no bounds. The Influenza virus is always evolving. The vaccine that is made available each year is more often than not for a new strain.

Get real.