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Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://hstoday.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2894&Itemid=149
H5N1 Outbreaks in S. Korea Indicate More Possible Mutations
by Anthony L. Kimery
Tuesday, 15 April 2008
Virologists, other authorities have reported seeing very different patterns than before
In the wake of Chinese health officials having confirmed that a father caught H5N1 bird flu from his son last December - marking at least the fourth instance in which authorities believe there has been limited inter-family H5N1 transmission ? South Korean authorities have expressed concern that avian influenza has began to spread in an unusual pattern, another possible indicator of the virus?s rapid mutation.
As HSToday.us and HSToday have reported, current testing shows bird flu strains are undergoing rapid and troubling mutations that are pushing the viruses closer to being able to be passed between humans.
Meanwhile, Japan confirmed an outbreak of H5N1 in the western prefecture of Okayama, the third to be confirmed in the country this year, the Agriculture Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said a separate outbreak was suspected after 23 birds died at a poultry farm in the southwestern prefecture of Miyazaki, site of two earlier H5N1 infections and Japan's biggest poultry-producing region.
Virologists and other authorities studying the outbreaks in South Korea have reported seeing very different patterns than before.
It had been believed that H5N1 was spread in cold weather by migratory birds, and that this was the most suitable environment for the virus to thrive in. But now, the latest eruption in infections in poultry occurred in April, which means the virus also is thriving in warmer environments.
The virus is certainly spreading faster than expected. First confirmed in Gimje April 2, within two weeks it has been confirmed on six other nearby farms in the South Jeolla area. On Monday, several suspected bird flu cases were reported at Iksan and Hampyeong, North of Jeolla Province. Authorities had confirmed 20 cases of bird flu as of Monday.
Officials from the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said the virus in circulation is substantively different from previous patterns in 2002-2003 and 2006-2007.
Prof. Kim Woo-ju of Korea University Medical Center was quoted saying the virus could easily turn into pandemic influenza.
While the Korean government, which has been criticized for not taking strong measures against outbreaks, assured that warmer weather will kill off the virus. Other authorities around the world carefully monitoring the mutations H5N1 aren?t as optimistic that this flu virus will act in so predictable ways, since it hasn?t yet.
H5N1 Outbreaks in S. Korea Indicate More Possible Mutations
by Anthony L. Kimery
Tuesday, 15 April 2008
Virologists, other authorities have reported seeing very different patterns than before
In the wake of Chinese health officials having confirmed that a father caught H5N1 bird flu from his son last December - marking at least the fourth instance in which authorities believe there has been limited inter-family H5N1 transmission ? South Korean authorities have expressed concern that avian influenza has began to spread in an unusual pattern, another possible indicator of the virus?s rapid mutation.
As HSToday.us and HSToday have reported, current testing shows bird flu strains are undergoing rapid and troubling mutations that are pushing the viruses closer to being able to be passed between humans.
Meanwhile, Japan confirmed an outbreak of H5N1 in the western prefecture of Okayama, the third to be confirmed in the country this year, the Agriculture Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said a separate outbreak was suspected after 23 birds died at a poultry farm in the southwestern prefecture of Miyazaki, site of two earlier H5N1 infections and Japan's biggest poultry-producing region.
Virologists and other authorities studying the outbreaks in South Korea have reported seeing very different patterns than before.
It had been believed that H5N1 was spread in cold weather by migratory birds, and that this was the most suitable environment for the virus to thrive in. But now, the latest eruption in infections in poultry occurred in April, which means the virus also is thriving in warmer environments.
The virus is certainly spreading faster than expected. First confirmed in Gimje April 2, within two weeks it has been confirmed on six other nearby farms in the South Jeolla area. On Monday, several suspected bird flu cases were reported at Iksan and Hampyeong, North of Jeolla Province. Authorities had confirmed 20 cases of bird flu as of Monday.
Officials from the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said the virus in circulation is substantively different from previous patterns in 2002-2003 and 2006-2007.
Prof. Kim Woo-ju of Korea University Medical Center was quoted saying the virus could easily turn into pandemic influenza.
While the Korean government, which has been criticized for not taking strong measures against outbreaks, assured that warmer weather will kill off the virus. Other authorities around the world carefully monitoring the mutations H5N1 aren?t as optimistic that this flu virus will act in so predictable ways, since it hasn?t yet.