Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Bird flu deaths in Asia prompt call for scrutiny

Aug 30, 2011 5:24pm IST

(Reuters) - Virologists warned on Tuesday that there was no vaccine against a mutant strain of H5N1 bird flu now spreading in China and Vietnam and called for closer monitoring of the disease in poultry and wild birds to stop it spreading to people....

While scientists are uncertain if this new strain -- called H5N1-2.3.2.1 -- is more virulent in people, they said it was different enough from its predecessor to escape a human H5N1 vaccine that can tackle the parent strain....

"H5N1 cases in Cambodia always have high mortality because they are detected late," Peiris told Reuters in an interview."It doesn't necessarily indicate that this particular virus strain is more virulent to humans. But it is a threat because it has become more widespread globally."

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