Studies Show Variants of H5N1 Avian Influenza Virus in Chinese Patients
-1.gif "Detecting variant virus in avian influenza patients 41")
According to a report from the Chinese Ministry of Health on November 28, laboratory tests have shown that the H5N1 virus in recent avian influenza patients in China has mutated compared to the virus found in avian influenza patients in Vietnam.
The Ministry disclosed that laboratory tests revealed the H5N1 virus isolated from recent avian influenza patients in China shares a high degree of similarity with the virus detected in poultry from avian influenza outbreaks. However, when compared to the H5N1 virus isolated from patients in Vietnam, the genotype of H5N1 in Chinese patients has mutated “to some extent,” according to spokesman Mao Qun’an from the Ministry of Health. “However, this mutation cannot lead to the capability of human-to-human transmission of avian influenza,” he emphasized.
Mao noted that since the H5N1 virus first emerged in 1997, most reported human infections have occurred in Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, and mainland China. There have been no reported cases of avian influenza infections in Europe.
The primary route for human infection is through direct contact with infected poultry or their feces, and inhaling virus particles from poultry droppings. Mao highlighted that the community can mitigate the risk of infection by avoiding sick and dead poultry.
Earlier this week, the World Health Organization reported laboratory tests indicated 132 people were infected with avian influenza, with 68 fatalities.
T.VY (According to Xinhua)
