Shannon Bennett
Well-known member
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200607/s1676278.htm
July 1, 2006. 7:22am (AEST)WHO warns of bird flu cases spike
The risk of bird flu mutating into a form more easily spread between people is still high and there could be an increase in human infections at the end of the year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warns.
In a report analysing more than 200 known bird flu cases, the United Nations agency identifies three peaks in human infections since 2003.
All the peaks are concentrated during the winter and spring seasons in the Northern Hemisphere.
"If this pattern continues, an upsurge in cases could be anticipated starting in late 2006 or early 2007," the WHO said, adding that further analysis was needed.
"Moreover, the widespread distribution of the H5N1 virus in poultry and the continued exposure of humans suggest that the risk of virus evolving into a more transmissible agent in humans remains high."
The avian virus, which has spread to some 50 countries, remains mostly a disease of birds.
But experts fear it could mutate into a more transmissible form and spark a pandemic killing millions of people.
The WHO study of human cases of H5N1 between December 2003 and April 2006 - during which 203 people caught the disease and 113 of them died - concludes that children and young adults are most vulnerable to dying after exposure to the strain.
Pattern of infections
It says the pattern of infections is "reminiscent" of that seen during the 1918-1919 Spanish flu pandemic which killed 40 million to 50 million people worldwide, mainly young adults.
Confirmed human cases in the recent bird flu outbreak ranged in age from three months to 75 years.
But the highest proportion of bird flu cases occur among those aged 10 to 29, with the typical victim being hospitalised four days after falling ill.
Some 73 per cent of patients aged 10 to 29 have died from the virus.
More than half of patients died five days after being taken to hospital - nine days after onset of symptoms.
People aged 50 and older have the lowest fatality rate.
- Reuters
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July 1, 2006. 7:22am (AEST)WHO warns of bird flu cases spike
The risk of bird flu mutating into a form more easily spread between people is still high and there could be an increase in human infections at the end of the year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warns.
In a report analysing more than 200 known bird flu cases, the United Nations agency identifies three peaks in human infections since 2003.
All the peaks are concentrated during the winter and spring seasons in the Northern Hemisphere.
"If this pattern continues, an upsurge in cases could be anticipated starting in late 2006 or early 2007," the WHO said, adding that further analysis was needed.
"Moreover, the widespread distribution of the H5N1 virus in poultry and the continued exposure of humans suggest that the risk of virus evolving into a more transmissible agent in humans remains high."
The avian virus, which has spread to some 50 countries, remains mostly a disease of birds.
But experts fear it could mutate into a more transmissible form and spark a pandemic killing millions of people.
The WHO study of human cases of H5N1 between December 2003 and April 2006 - during which 203 people caught the disease and 113 of them died - concludes that children and young adults are most vulnerable to dying after exposure to the strain.
Pattern of infections
It says the pattern of infections is "reminiscent" of that seen during the 1918-1919 Spanish flu pandemic which killed 40 million to 50 million people worldwide, mainly young adults.
Confirmed human cases in the recent bird flu outbreak ranged in age from three months to 75 years.
But the highest proportion of bird flu cases occur among those aged 10 to 29, with the typical victim being hospitalised four days after falling ill.
Some 73 per cent of patients aged 10 to 29 have died from the virus.
More than half of patients died five days after being taken to hospital - nine days after onset of symptoms.
People aged 50 and older have the lowest fatality rate.
- Reuters
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