This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22364628
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
H7N9 bird flu is a 'serious threat' - researchers warn | H7N9 bird flu is a 'serious threat' - researchers warn |
(about 20 hours later) | |
The outbreak of a new type of bird flu in China poses a "serious threat" to human health, but it is still too soon to predict how far it will spread, experts have said. | The outbreak of a new type of bird flu in China poses a "serious threat" to human health, but it is still too soon to predict how far it will spread, experts have said. |
Of the 126 people known to be infected so far, 24 have died, with many more still severely ill in hospital. | Of the 126 people known to be infected so far, 24 have died, with many more still severely ill in hospital. |
The H7N9 virus has not, however, yet proved able to spread between people - which limits its global threat. | The H7N9 virus has not, however, yet proved able to spread between people - which limits its global threat. |
The threat should be "treated calmly, but seriously", researchers advised. | The threat should be "treated calmly, but seriously", researchers advised. |
There is concern over both the pace and severity of the outbreak. | There is concern over both the pace and severity of the outbreak. |
There has been a relatively high number of known infections since the first case was detected in April. | There has been a relatively high number of known infections since the first case was detected in April. |
Prof John McCauley, the director of a World Health Organization (WHO) collaborating centre in the UK, said: "It is unusual to get these numbers." | Prof John McCauley, the director of a World Health Organization (WHO) collaborating centre in the UK, said: "It is unusual to get these numbers." |
Of those infected, a fifth died, a fifth recovered and the rest are still ill. The infection results in severe pneumonia and even blood poisoning and organ failure. | Of those infected, a fifth died, a fifth recovered and the rest are still ill. The infection results in severe pneumonia and even blood poisoning and organ failure. |
"The WHO considers this a serious threat," said Prof McCauley, "but we don't know at this stage whether this is going to spread from human to human." | "The WHO considers this a serious threat," said Prof McCauley, "but we don't know at this stage whether this is going to spread from human to human." |
So far nearly all cases have been traced back to contact with poultry. If the virus adapts to spread readily between people it will pose a much greater threat and scientists warn that the virus is mutating rapidly. | So far nearly all cases have been traced back to contact with poultry. If the virus adapts to spread readily between people it will pose a much greater threat and scientists warn that the virus is mutating rapidly. |
The last major bird flu, H5N1, made the jump to people in 1997 and killed more than three hundred people - yet, it is still unable to spread between humans. | The last major bird flu, H5N1, made the jump to people in 1997 and killed more than three hundred people - yet, it is still unable to spread between humans. |
Predicting which viruses will become deadly on a global scale is impossible. | Predicting which viruses will become deadly on a global scale is impossible. |
Prof Jeremy Farrar, a leading expert in bird flu and the director-elect of one of the world's largest research charities, the Wellcome Trust, said H7N9 needed to be taken seriously. | |
"Whenever an influenza virus jumps across from its normal host in bird populations into humans it is a cause for concern," he said. | "Whenever an influenza virus jumps across from its normal host in bird populations into humans it is a cause for concern," he said. |
Often in pandemics older people have some immunity as they have lived longer and have been exposed to similar viruses before. | Often in pandemics older people have some immunity as they have lived longer and have been exposed to similar viruses before. |
However, in this outbreak the ages of those infected ranges from two to 81. | However, in this outbreak the ages of those infected ranges from two to 81. |
Prof Farrar said: "That suggests there truly is no immunity across all ages, and that as humans we have not seen this virus before. | Prof Farrar said: "That suggests there truly is no immunity across all ages, and that as humans we have not seen this virus before. |
"The response has been calm and measured, but it cannot be taken lightly." | "The response has been calm and measured, but it cannot be taken lightly." |
New threat | New threat |
A study published in the Lancet medical journal suggests that H7N9 influenza is a mix of at least four viruses with origins in ducks and chickens. | A study published in the Lancet medical journal suggests that H7N9 influenza is a mix of at least four viruses with origins in ducks and chickens. |
Unlike the previous H5N1 outbreak, it is not deadly to poultry. It means it is much harder to track the spread of the virus. | Unlike the previous H5N1 outbreak, it is not deadly to poultry. It means it is much harder to track the spread of the virus. |
A highly controversial piece of research in 2012 showed that it would take five mutations to transform H5N1 into a pandemic. | A highly controversial piece of research in 2012 showed that it would take five mutations to transform H5N1 into a pandemic. |
Prof Wendy Barclay, an influenza researcher at Imperial College London, said: "H7N9 might be one step closer to being able to become a pandemic than H5 is in nature at the moment." | Prof Wendy Barclay, an influenza researcher at Imperial College London, said: "H7N9 might be one step closer to being able to become a pandemic than H5 is in nature at the moment." |
It already has one of the five mutations when it is infecting birds. | It already has one of the five mutations when it is infecting birds. |
"In people who have caught the H7 virus so far we can see [another] one of the important mutations occurring in those people in a matter of days," she said. | "In people who have caught the H7 virus so far we can see [another] one of the important mutations occurring in those people in a matter of days," she said. |