Scientists concerned at H7N9 bird flu outbreak that has killed 24 people

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/01/scientists-concerned-h7n9-bird-flu-outbreak


A teacher guides a student on how to use disinfectant at a school in Taipei, Taiwan, as the death toll from the H7N9 bird flu strain reached 24. Photograph: Mandy Cheng/AFP/Getty Images

Scientists are seriously concerned about a new bird flu virus that is causing severe disease in China, killing a fifth of all those it infects.

So far, the virus, known as H7N9, is being transmitted only to humans from chickens, but there are worries that it could mutate into a form that could be passed from one person to another. Five mutations are known to be necessary for that to happen – H7N9 already has two of them. If that occurred, it could spread worldwide with lethal effect.

According to the World Health Organisation, there have been 126 cases of H7N9 bird flu, all but one of which were diagnosed in China, with the other in Taiwan in a man who had travelled from China. So far 24 people had died from the disease.

"The cases are going up daily – about 20% have died, 20% have recovered and the rest are still sick," said Prof John McCauley, director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Influenza at the MRC National Institute for Medical Research in London. "The WHO considers this a serious threat. We're on an alert and we're developing diagnostics and vaccines specifically against the virus."