Why are they worried about H5N1?

Posted on | October 16, 2009 | No Comments

Why are they worried about H5N1?
The H5N1 virus is one of 16 different known subtypes of influenza virus. Experts fear that the H5N1 subtype could trigger the next pandemic for several reasons. Firstly, it has already demonstrated an ability to infect people and kill – one of the key characteristics of a pandemic strain. Secondly, the virus has the ability to mutate and acquire genes from viruses infecting other species. Experts are concerned that the virus could either: adapt, giving it greater affinity for humans, or; exchange genes with a human flu virus, thereby producing a completely new virus strain capable of spreading easily between people, and causing a pandemic. Alternatively the pandemic could arise from a strain of influenza A unrelated to H5N1.

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