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The lack of sustained human-to-human transmission suggests that this AH5N1 avian virus does not currently have the capacity to cause a human pandemic. But, given the known potential for antigenic shift—either from a gradual process of adaptive genetic mutation within the virus or by a snap gene reassortment with a human influenza A virus6—the virus could acquire the mechanism for rapid human transmission and cause explosive global spread, facilitated by current air travel. Pigs and humans seem to be the “mixing vessels” for genetic exchange when coinfected by both animal and human flu viruses. Close domestic proximity of fowl, pigs, and people facilitates this, a situation common in Asia.
Originally posted by esecallum
The lack of sustained human-to-human transmission suggests that this AH5N1 avian virus does not currently have the capacity to cause a human pandemic".
Originally posted by Netchicken
Without reading his source I am also inclined to consider the Bird Flu to be a hoax. However its not just like a "bad joke" kind of hoax but a deliberate and organized effort at keeping the worlds population in a state of fear and uncertianty.
Just follow it through ... Animal TB, Mad cow disease, etc, etc, all these pandemics that were going to destroy civilization as we know it, and none happened.
Wake me up for the next one, it wil be due in about a year or so, once this one has gone off the boil.
[edit on 8-1-2006 by Netchicken]
But crucially, the H5N1 strain is not very contagious.
A senior World Health Organisation expert on communicable diseases, Klaus Stoehr, said the latest outbreak did not mean that the risk to humans worldwide had increased.
Originally posted by esecallum
more proof;- Donald Rumsfeld WILL PROFIT BY OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
as he will gain personally from the rubbish tamiflu vaccine in which he HAS A VESTED INTEREST..
thats right folks if you get injured or killed by this mercury laced vaccine no compensation for you YOU ,YOU POOR YOU.
you are on your own!!!!!!!
REMEMBER THAT WHEN YOU ARE IN BED TONIGHT.
www.abc.net.au...
It seems highly likely the children who died in Van region also caught the virus directly from chickens.
But world health authorities are concerned human exposure to the bird flu could lead to emergence of a mutation allowing easier transmission between humans.
That raises the prospect of a global pandemic.
A team of World Health Organisation doctors is in Turkey to help investigate the deaths and look for any signs of transmission between humans.
www.abc.net.au...
Meanwhile, at least two children died in the country's east after contracting the H5N1 strain, which scientists fear could mutate into a rapidly spreading strain of influenza able to be transmitted from person-to-person rather than being confined to a disease caught from birds.
news.inq7.net...
Most human cases of the disease have been traced to contact with infected birds.
Experts fear the virus could mutate into a form that passes easily between people, possibly sparking a pandemic.
news.ft.com...
So far the deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza has killed only people in sustained and direct contact with infected poultry. But experts fear that in certain circumstances it could mutate into a form transmittable from human to human.
CTV.CA
Authorities around the globe are closely watching the H5N1 strain, fearful it could mutate into a form easily passed between humans. If that happened, the result could be a global flu pandemic, threatening the lives of millions worldwide.
english.people.com.cn...
Experts fear that the highly contagious virus could mutate into a human strain that could cause a worldwide pandemic among human beings.
www.nytimes.com...
Although H5N1 does not now readily spread between humans, scientists are worried it may obtain that ability through biological processes, setting off a worldwide pandemic.
ft.com
So far the deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza has killed only people in sustained and direct contact with infected poultry. But experts fear that in certain circumstances it could mutate into a form transmittable from human to human.
www.tmcnet.com...
Some experts say the sudden increase in the disease in people means the virus has mutated to enable it to spread more efficiently from poultry to people.
english.aljazeera.net...
Currently, humans are thought only to contract bird flu if they come into close contact with infected birds, but scientists fear that millions around the world could die if the virus crosses with human flu strains to become highly contagious.
Original Source: CNN, Jan 6
Authorities are closely monitoring the H5N1 strain of the virus, fearing it could mutate into a form easily passed between humans and spark a pandemic killing tens of millions.
Original Source: CNN, Jan 6
Health officials have said they fear the virus could eventually mutate and spread rapidly from human to human, causing a worldwide pandemic.
Original Source: CNN, Jan 7
So far, H5N1 has been capable in rare cases of transmitting from poultry to humans in close contact with them. Experts fear that if the virus should mutate to a strain that passes easily among people, it could set off a human flu pandemic.
Original Source: CNN, Jan 8
"The problem is local, but it's also global," Rodier said, noting that public health officials are concerned that the virus -- which was first identified in 1997 in Hong Kong -- may mutate so that it gains the ability to spread easily from person to person. That could trigger a pandemic with disastrous consequences.
Original Source: CNN, Jan 8
Authorities are closely watching H5N1 for fear it could mutate into a form easily passed among humans and spark a pandemic. Birds in Turkey, Romania, Russia and Croatia have recently tested positive for H5N1.