On May 24, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the H5N1 virus may have transmitted from human to human within an Indonesian family, resulting in the deaths of six individuals. However, experts have yet to find evidence of the virus evolving into a form that can be transmitted between humans.
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Health experts are examining a case of H5N1 virus infection in Sumatra, Indonesia. (Photo AFP) |
On May 23, a WHO representative arrived to investigate the case of six family members in North Sumatra, Indonesia, who died from H5N1 virus infection.
Experts indicated that the possibility of the H5N1 virus evolving to transmit from human to human cannot be ruled out. However, to date, they have not found any evidence of such evolution.
In a recent report published on the WHO website, all family members infected with the H5N1 virus were confirmed to have had direct and prolonged contact with a previously infected family member.
The WHO report stated: “So far, investigations have not found evidence of the virus’s transmission in the general community and have not found evidence of effective transmission from human to human.” Currently, the global death toll from H5N1 virus infection has reached 124, with Indonesia accounting for 32 deaths, placing it second in the world after Vietnam.
Scientists are concerned that the case of the six Indonesian family members who died from H5N1 may signal a potential global pandemic.
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