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What concerns most virologists and scientists is when viruses get into various animal species. There are some animal species, particularly pigs, that are able to take viruses from chickens, viruses from humans, and once these viruses get into pigs they take on new properties or they change. The genes from each virus mix creating a new strain. You then have a new influenza virus that hasn't been seen before and that is capable of infecting humans and capable of easily transmitting from human to human. These are the types of viruses that are responsible for global pandemic outbreaks of influenza. We are probably due for another one. On June 22nd, 2006 the World Health Organization concluded that Indonesia's family cluster incident (May, 2006) of H5N1 avian influenza cases probably involved person-to-person transmission, including one three-person chain. WHO also said the virus had not mutated and did not spread to anyone outside the family, according to the Associated Press (AP). One of the mysteries about the case cluster, the story notes, is why only blood relatives, not spouses, became infected.† ### ☜ HOMETracking Avian Flu (Wash. Post) FACT: Avian influenza viruses are found more commonly in water birds (ducks and geese), shorebirds and gulls. Birds such as sparrows and pigeons tend not to be as readily infected. It is not clear why shorebirds are more susceptible. Pandemic Planning Handbook (PDF)
"The world is failing billions of people. There is no bigger test for humanity than the crisis of global health." |
Donors provided $18 million for emergency activities in response to the outbreak over the years 2004-2005, but that is not enough. We know too little about this disease; most especially how it is transmitted and what makes people vulnerable to it. Real time responses are essential, even though -- or, especially because -- the hardest hit countries are the least developed. Networks have to be established that permit the identification of the disease, patients real and suspected must be isolated, and medicines made available both for treatment and prevention. By one estimate, the only producer of vaccine for the current strain of bird flu would need six months to prepare enough medicine to treat 1 million people for five weeks.† |
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