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Hong Kong health minister warns that more deadly virus could emerge from bird flu and seasonal influenza
PUBLISHED : Sunday, 08 February, 2015, 6:05pm
UPDATED : Sunday, 08 February, 2015, 6:05pm
Elizabeth Cheung and Emily Tsang
Health minister Dr Ko Wing-man raised his concern about the possibility of bird flu being mixed together with the seasonable influenza and produce a more deadly new virus.
?If a person contracts two viruses, a gene recombination is likely to happen,? Ko said today on Sunday, as the city is battling against an unusual high numbers of seasonal influenza outbreaks.
The city has recorded 140 deaths this year as of yesterday Saturday, with 214 needing ICU treatment.
The high demand has push public hospital close to breaking point as they struggle to cope with a major flu outbreak that has exposed worrying staff shortages across the city?s public health-care system.
Ko warned seasonal flu and avian flu should be considered together for any preventive measures.
If the two viruses mutated, they could turn into a new virus that is possibily more contagious, he said.
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PUBLISHED : Sunday, 08 February, 2015, 6:05pm
UPDATED : Sunday, 08 February, 2015, 6:05pm
Elizabeth Cheung and Emily Tsang
Health minister Dr Ko Wing-man raised his concern about the possibility of bird flu being mixed together with the seasonable influenza and produce a more deadly new virus.
?If a person contracts two viruses, a gene recombination is likely to happen,? Ko said today on Sunday, as the city is battling against an unusual high numbers of seasonal influenza outbreaks.
The city has recorded 140 deaths this year as of yesterday Saturday, with 214 needing ICU treatment.
The high demand has push public hospital close to breaking point as they struggle to cope with a major flu outbreak that has exposed worrying staff shortages across the city?s public health-care system.
Ko warned seasonal flu and avian flu should be considered together for any preventive measures.
If the two viruses mutated, they could turn into a new virus that is possibily more contagious, he said.
...
