Avian Flu May have mutated for easy human transmission

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Avian Flu May have mutated for easy

Human transmission

 

 

 

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Avian Flu May have mutated for easy Human transmission

 

 

H5N1 bird flu virus mutates: experts

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H5N1 bird flu virus mutates: experts

11/15/2005 -- 11:23(GMT+7)

 

 

HCM City (VNA)- The H5N1 bird flu virus has mutated into a form easily

transmitted among mammals, experts working at the Pasteur Institute in

Ho Chi Minh City said.

 

The results were drawn from a study by the institute's molecular

biological department into the H5N1 virus and the decoding of its genes.

 

Conducted between early 2004 and June 2006, the study resulted in

researchers decoding 24 samples of the virus in poultry, waterfowl and

humans in Viet Nam's southern provinces.

 

Results from the institute's website (www.pasteur-hcm.org.vn) show

that the virus which caused an outbreak earlier this year was similar

to the one circulating the region last year.

 

" The H5N1 virus found on human and waterfowls in early 2005 has some

variations focusing on important functional parts of the surface

glycoprotein " , said the website.

 

" There has been a mutation allowing the virus to breed effectively on

mammal tissue and become highly virulent. "

 

The research also revealed the development of resistance by the H5N1

virus to the anti-viral drug Tamiflu, said the head of the research

team, Cao Bao Van, on Nov. 14.

 

Van said that a 13-year-old girl who died of bird flu in Dong Thap

province in January had failed to respond to a course of Tamiflu.

 

The finding, claimed Van, will once again raise concerns over the

stockpile of Tamiflu, a drug considered the first line of defence

against the bird flu virus.

 

" The supervision of Tamiflu's resistance and the stockpiling of

effective antiviral drugs is necessary and urgent, " stated the website.

 

The institute is expected to hold a meeting on Nov.15 to explain in

details its findings, said Van.

 

With the spread of bird flu to ten provinces and cities across Viet

Nam, Director of the Animal Health Department, Bui Quang Anh, has

ordered localities to immediately establish quarantine check-points.

 

In an urgent message sent to local authorities on Nov. 13, Anh said

provinces and cities must mobilise forces in order to ensure

check-point are manned around the clock.

 

Mobile task force groups are also expected to be set up to both detect

an outbreak and destroy the sick poultry. -Enditem