by Playfuls Staff |
31st October 2006
A new variant of the H5N1 bird flu virus has been reported across southern China, replacing most previous variants despite [more] a poultry vaccination program.
Researchers at the University of Hong Kong, in collaboration with scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, said the new virus -- called Fujian-like, or FL -- appears to be responsible for the increased occurrence of H5N1 poultry infections in China since October 2005, as well as recent human cases.
FL has also been reported in Laos, Malaysia and Thailand, resulting in a new bird flu outbreak wave across Southeast Asia that has caused human infections as well, according to the Hong Kong-St. Jude team.
Investigators warn it is possible the new H5N1 variant will spread farther across Asia and into Europe, as it evolves to form other sublineages that vary from place to place.
The findings are significant, since experts believe H5N1 is the most likely virus to trigger a human influenza pandemic.
A report on the findings appears in the November online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
© 2006 UPI
