Captain Trips H5N1 Death Toll Mounts
Outbreaks of the H5N1 disease have occurred in poultry in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos and South Korea. More than 100 million birds in these countries have died from the disease or have been killed (“culled”) in order to prevent its spread.
In addition, there have been 108 cases of bird flu in humans and a total of 54 deaths. It is believed that humans become infected through contact with diseased birds and contaminated surfaces, including ingestion of raw or undercooked poultry. But much remains to be learned about specific modes of transmission,
Flu viruses can change rapidly and there is growing concern that a human infection with a bird and a human flu at the same time can give rise to a new type of influenza to which people will have no natural immunity.
Such a disease could be devastating to human beings, resulting in a worldwide pandemic. From 1918 to 1919, a different subtype of flu killed approximately 50 million people around the world.
The WHO has expressed concern about the possibility of the spread of bird flu outside of the Amdo region and about the Chinese government’s efforts to test migratory birds and people in the area.
Approximately 100,000 birds from 189 different species congregate at Tso-Ngon Lake each year. Despite those numbers, and more than 5,000 bird deaths from the disease, only 12 birds and 2 humans have been tested for avian influenza.
In addition, little is known about the specific migratory patterns of the different species, making early warning of other areas of Tibet, China and Asia, a difficult prospect.
In addition, there have been 108 cases of bird flu in humans and a total of 54 deaths. It is believed that humans become infected through contact with diseased birds and contaminated surfaces, including ingestion of raw or undercooked poultry. But much remains to be learned about specific modes of transmission,
Flu viruses can change rapidly and there is growing concern that a human infection with a bird and a human flu at the same time can give rise to a new type of influenza to which people will have no natural immunity.
Such a disease could be devastating to human beings, resulting in a worldwide pandemic. From 1918 to 1919, a different subtype of flu killed approximately 50 million people around the world.
The WHO has expressed concern about the possibility of the spread of bird flu outside of the Amdo region and about the Chinese government’s efforts to test migratory birds and people in the area.
Approximately 100,000 birds from 189 different species congregate at Tso-Ngon Lake each year. Despite those numbers, and more than 5,000 bird deaths from the disease, only 12 birds and 2 humans have been tested for avian influenza.
In addition, little is known about the specific migratory patterns of the different species, making early warning of other areas of Tibet, China and Asia, a difficult prospect.
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