Bird Flu: China: Virus Mutating

From Forbes.com:
http://www.forbes.com/finance/feeds/afx/2005/11/28/afx2355176.html

for discussion purposes:

AFX News Limited
Chinese govt says bird flu virus in humans mutating
11.28.2005, 07:58 AM


BEIJING (AFX) - The H5N1 strain of bird flu seen in human cases in China has mutated, compared with strains found in human cases in Vietnam, Xinhua news agency cited a health ministry spokesman as saying.

Chinese labs have found that the genetic order of the H5N1 virus seen in humans infected in China is different from that found in humans in Vietnam, Xinhua news agency reported.

In China's human cases, the virus has mutated 'to a certain degree,' health ministry spokesman Mao Qun'an was quoted as saying.

'But the mutation cannot cause human-to-human transmission of the avian flu,' he said.

China this month confirmed its first three human cases of bird flu, two of which were fatal. The disease has killed more than 60 people in Asia since 2003.

Health officials fear that the virus could mutate to the extent where it is easily transmitted from human to human, an event that could lead to a global pandemic capable of killing hundreds of millions of people.


Copyright AFX News Limited 2005. All rights reserved.

WHO Creates Flu "fire brigade"

GENEVA, Switzerland, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- The World Health Organization is expanding its global team of experts to respond to bird flu outbreaks, which its director describes as a "fire brigade."

Dr. Michael Ryan, 41, heads the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, which also responds to other disease outbreaks, but whose greatest concern is the avian flu outbreaks in Asia.

Describing GOARN as a "global fire brigade," Ryan told The Washington Post there are about 400 people from nearly 200 government agencies, charitable organizations and academic institutions who have agreed to go to a disease outbreak on a moment's notice if their particular expertise is needed.

"We generally have a confident sense that if we intervene rapidly, we can deter disease on site," Ryan said. "We know through contract tracing, isolation, quarantine, infection control and good surveillance that we can put the fire out."

He is one of many flu experts who believe the world is closer to a pandemic now than anytime since 1968, when the Hong Kong flu killed about 1 million people worldwide.

Since late 2003, the H5N1 bird fly virus has infected 125 people and killed 64 in Asia.

Copyright 2005 by United Press International. All Rights Reserved.

Link: http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=64598

Where you canread about the spread of bird flu throughout Indonesia.

Snip.....

"Authorities have so far confirmed that the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus has infected fowl through 23 of Indonesia's 33 provinces, but senior officials said new infections were suspected elsewhere, and that the outbreaks increase the risk of the virus mutating into a strain that's more contagious to humans and could lead to a pandemic that health experts fear could kill millions."

bump

Another article on mutation here:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-11/28/content_3848013.htm

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Very nice catches Nuthatch (newswise). It does raise my *picker factor - personally* up another notch or two.

And thank you for stacking your articles on one thread - that way we don't flood the main board (like single article threads would do).

When you *think* that the thread has lost it's much interest to the members, after a run on the main board for awhile.

Rather than let it sink into archive limbo; please notify me - and I'll move it over to the Infectious Disease forum for you.

Thanks Nuthatch! Very important information!

Thank you all for all your work keeping us informed. Mary

Though they say the mutated form isn't passed on from human to human...OK....it's still mutating...that's not a good thing IMO, only a matter of time...my pucker factor went up a few pegs as well Shakey

I have to say, this mutation is a valid concern. We need to watch for rapid mutations from person to person like this. God forbid if any of these people who get the avian flu already are infected with a regular human flu. That's when any mutations will be deadly.

The real concern is that it might already be happening, but with China--or any of the Asian countries--we won't know until it's on the doorstep.

Thanks to all who post this information. It is essential as we enter the flu season.

One more thing.... in my profession, I have a direct link to the CDC for warnings. I am emailed by the CDC (via our health department) if there is anything to be concerned about. We are on the front lines. I'll pass along any info I may get in the BS.


Seabird

Seabird said:

I have to say, this mutation is a valid concern. We need to watch for rapid mutations from person to person like this. God forbid if any of these people who get the avian flu already are infected with a regular human flu. That's when any mutations will be deadly.

The real concern is that it might already be happening, but with China--or any of the Asian countries--we won't know until it's on the doorstep.

Thanks to all who post this information. It is essential as we enter the flu season.

One more thing.... in my profession, I have a direct link to the CDC for warnings. I am emailed by the CDC (via our health department) if there is anything to be concerned about. We are on the front lines. I'll pass along any info I may get in the BS.


Seabird

Click to expand...

Seabird,

For those of us that are very concerned about this Bird Flu situation, this is definately good news!!! ANY 'extra' early warnings will definately be more than valuable for us. I believe that this flu could show up here with quickly and quietly at first......then all hell will break loose.

So Seabird, keep us posted please and thank you!!!