Bird flu still a threat ? WHO

[Treyfish]

Bird flu virus now endemic in three more countries – WHO

Wednesday, 25 November 2009 00:00

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday that the bird flu virus continues to pose a threat to humans. The announcement came after reports of new cases of avian influenza or A(H5N1) were confirmed by health authorities in Egypt, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.

Since 2003, outbreaks have been reported in poultry flocks in 60 countries in Asia, Europe and North
Africa. The virus is now considered endemic in Egypt, Indonesia and Vietnam.

The international health body said avian influenza poses a health risk to humans in two ways.

“First, it places those in direct contact with birds—usually rural folk and farm workers—at risk of catching the often-fatal disease. Second, the virus could undergo a process of ‘reassortment’ with another influenza virus and produce a completely new strain,” the WHO said in a statement.

Health experts do not count out the possibility that the bird flu virus may combine with the A(H1N1) virus, producing a deadlier and more contagious disease.

“We don’t know if this is possible, but we are certainly aware of the risk,” said Dr. Shin Young-soo, WHO regional director for the Western Pacific.

He explained that reassortment occurs when the genes of two or more types of influenza virus mix in a host animal—often a pig, duck or chicken—and form an entirely new strain of the virus that is new to humans.

In April, after the reassortment of avian, swine and human strains of influenza in pigs in Mexico, a novel influenza virus—the pandemic influenza A(H1N1) 2009 virus—emerged in humans.

This virus spread quickly around the world and has probably infected millions of people, killing thousands.

“Influenza viruses are unpredictable. In areas where A(H1N1) is endemic, we and our partners and national governments are working to build surveillance systems to identify changes in the behaviour of the virus. We are also focusing on early-response capacity to reduce the potential threats to human health,” Shin said.http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/nation/6654-bird-flu-virus-now-endemic-in-three-more-countries--who

[Treyfish]

Re: Bird flu virus now endemic in three more countries ? WHO

World Health Organization (WHO) avian influenza and the possibility of combining yuryeo swine flu
[New scanning] Wed, November 25th, 2009 with a 09:33 | email | print

World Health Organization (WHO) bird flu (H5N1, AI) and swine influenza (H1N1) is concerned the possibility of cross-coupled .

Egypt, Thailand, Indonesia, these forecasts a recent case reported in Vietnam and elsewhere in the discovery of AI will be raised.

24 days, according to Bloomberg Foreign Youngsoo Shin WHO Western Pacific and the AI virus outbreak bayireoseugan remarked about the possibility of combining "about such things may be possible," but "such a clear perception of risk and the situation on the border equipped stations, "he said.
New Chief for the last over the world and new outbreaks of bird flu virus, a pig, the human influenza virus from pigs in Mexico showed no recombination was emphasized.

New Chief of the influenza virus as well as unpredictable he would "deepened the already popular with local government monitoring system for the effort," he said. http://kr.news.yahoo.com/service/new...newssetid=1352

[Laidback Al]

Re: Bird flu virus now endemic in three more countries ? WHO

Note: this is the same article as the first post. This is from Philstar.com with a different, and less less sensationalistic, headline. . . . Except, the headline author confused H1N1 and H5N1.

WHO: H1N1 [editorial note H5N1] still a global threat

(The Philippine Star) Updated November 25, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - The World Health Organization (WHO) warned yesterday that the Avian Influenza or A-H5N1 remains a threat to humans, with newly confirmed cases reported in Egypt, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.
In a statement, WHO said the presence of the A-H5N1 in poultries in these countries poses a health risk in two ways.
First, those in direct contact with birds ? usually rural folk and farm workers ? are in danger of contracting the virus. Second, the virus can undergo a process of ?re-assortment? with another influenza viruses, thus producing a new strain.
WHO said the ?most obvious risk is of H5N1 combining with the pandemic influenza A(H1N1) 2009 virus, producing a flu virus that is as deadly as the former and as contagious as the latter.?
?We don?t know if this is possible, but we are certainly aware of the risk. We are on alert for this development,? said Dr. Shin Young-soo, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific.
Re-assortment takes place when the genes of two or more types of influenza virus mix in a host animal ? often a pig, duck or chicken ? and form an entirely new strain of the virus.
Last April, after the re-assortment of avian, swine and human strains of influenza in pigs in Mexico, a novel influenza virus ?the pandemic influenza A(H1N1) virus ?emerged in humans. The virus spread quickly across the world.
?Influenza viruses are unpredictable. In areas where A(H1N1) is endemic, we and our partners and national governments are working to build surveillance systems to identify changes in the behavior of the virus. We are also focusing on early-response capacity to reduce the potential threats to human health,? Shin added. ?Sheila Crisostomo

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=526599&publicationSubCategoryId=63