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Related: About this forumScientists 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-outbreakA 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."
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Scientists concerned at H7N9 bird flu outbreak that has killed 24 people (Original Post)
xchrom
May 2013
OP
redqueen
(115,101 posts)1. I'm very surprised at how quiet the news is about this.
xchrom
(108,903 posts)2. Me too... But what can yousay? Nt
redqueen
(115,101 posts)3. Not much, really.
Wash your hands, cover your mouth when you cough and your nose when you sneeze, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer... and stop touching your face.
xchrom
(108,903 posts)4. My thing is if you show concern about this or that outbreak
You get labeled a certain way.
But I gotta tell ya - some of the outbreaks are scary.
I just choose to say less about it here.
angelabice
(4 posts)5. whats all these about
whats all these about,
uppityperson
(115,677 posts)6. What? What is the news about this flu about?