WHO says new bird strain is "one of most lethal" flu viruses
Source: Reuters
(Reuters) - A new strain of bird flu that has killed 22 people in China is "one of the most lethal" of its kind and is more easily transmissible to humans than an earlier strain that has killed hundreds around the world since 2003, a top World Health Organization (WHO) official said on Wednesday.
The H7N9 virus has infected 108 people in China since it was first detected in March, according to the Geneva-based WHO. Although it is not clear exactly how people have been infected, WHO experts see no evidence so far of the most worrisome scenario - sustained transmission between people.
Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/04/24/uk-birdflu-china-idUKBRE93N0AW20130424
New bird flu strain 'more easily caught by humans' than 2003 outbreak. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/apr/24/bird-flu-strain-humans-outbreak
JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,339 posts)Other than add this to the list of reasons to avoid air travel.
Response to JustABozoOnThisBus (Reply #1)
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snooper2
(30,151 posts)There are YouTube videos of it-
Happens to women too---
http://www.newzimbabwe.com/news-7509-Woman%20drops%20dead%20during%20Muamba%20prayer/news.aspx
A ZIMBABWEAN woman suffered a heart attack and died while praying for the Bolton midfielder, Fabrice Muamba.
Christina Goredema, 35, died in front of a shocked congregation at the Majestic Christian Centre in Hillingdon, England, last Sunday.
Friend Artur Correia, who was at the service with her partner, Edward, and their two children aged four and two, said: She had taken the microphone and was talking about how Fabrice was too young to be this sick when she fell on to a pastor.
Someone rushed to try and revive her, but it was no good.
We are in shock.
Friends have been paying tribute to the mum-of-two.
Marrah_G
(28,581 posts)Unless you are handling birds or are in close quarters with birds in Asia you should be fine.
Now if it jumps to a human to human strain, then things get more hairy. Then best things to do are washing your hands alot and be mindful of what you are touching, including your mouth,nose,eyes.
Nihil
(13,508 posts)> Taiwan on Wednesday reported the first case of the H7N9 bird flu outside of mainland China.
> ...
> The patient said he had not been in contact with poultry or eaten under-cooked
> birds or eggs while staying in Suzhou
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014464454
Marrah_G
(28,581 posts)snagglepuss
(12,704 posts)Marrah_G
(28,581 posts)But to be honest I haven't been following it much over the last week due to the Bombing stuff etc.
The more people it infects the more likely it is to mutate.
The scary thing about this outbreak is that the birds aren't showing signs of sickness. This makes it really hard to cull flocks and to follow the spread.
xchrom
(108,903 posts)tclambert
(11,085 posts)"Who's on second?" "No, WHO said the thing about flu." "I don't know." "Third base."
ewagner
(18,964 posts)progressoid
(49,988 posts)JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,339 posts)it's sorta WHAT i tried to do with my reply #1.
i failed.
I DON'T KNOW...
tclambert
(11,085 posts)byeya
(2,842 posts)people living among them. The fowl are often brought to market alive bringing the flu, if present, to the shoppers.
It's hard to change peoples' customs but if it's not done it'll 1918, or worse, all over again.
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)Not just China, Southeast Asia as well.
byeya
(2,842 posts)proximity. The flu virus can bounce between three potential vectors there.
cynzke
(1,254 posts)Some people are getting all bent out of shape about letting Muslims into this country.
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)What about the sewer systems from from those mega factory farms in China. Then there is slaughter area wastes too...does that just run into their rivers?
They already wash meat with all kinds of chemicals to kill bacteria. This is not good enough for a virus.
I think these large corporations should pay the costs to develop simple killed vaccines from the current flu strains. For the meat chickens they raise to sell. They spay vaccines on the chicks.
Marrah_G
(28,581 posts)Sunlei
(22,651 posts)I'm sure their factory farms/slaughter process with a million manure covered chickens stuffed tightpack for life- aren't able to wash off every single speck of virus.