SciDev.Net
Science and Development Network
News, views and information about science, technology and the developing world
News
Bird flu mutations increase threat to people
Source: Nature
19 January 2006 | EN
.jpg "tEM of H5N1 avian flu virus")
The H5N1 virus is mutating, say researchers
CDC/ Cynthia Goldsmith/ Jackie Katz
The bird flu virus causing an outbreak in Turkey appears to be changing, according to researchers studying samples from infected patients there.
Three mutations have so far been found. Scientists believe two of these make it easier for the virus to infect humans. Combined, these two mutations could also make it easier for the virus to spread between humans.
The effect of the third mutation is unclear. Further details of all three are given in this article in Nature.
Alan Hay, director of a World Health Organization influenza laboratory in the United Kingdom, says that the virus would probably need further mutations to enable efficient human-to-human transmission.
Add your comment
All comments are subject to approval and we reserve the right to edit comments containing inappropriate/unsuitable language. SciDev.Net holds copyright for all material posted on the website. Please see terms of use for further details.
You need to be signed in to post a comment or to email a consenting comment author. Please sign in or sign up.