A new strain of bird flu is circulating in China, and authorities are keeping a close eye on a potentially disastrous scenario. On Aetiology, Tara C. Smith writes that by now, "the microbe may have already become established in the population, adapting to humans stealthily before we were even aware of it." Greg Laden writes, unlike H1N1 in 2009, the new H7N9 doesn't sicken birds, making it more difficult to identify reservoirs of the virus. And according to the latest reports, it doesn't make all people sick either. Documented infections are widespread in a populous region, and of more than 100 known cases, twenty people have died. So far there is no reason to panic—but the real threat lies in further mutation of the virus, and the emergence of a killer global flu.
- Log in to post comments
If there is no reason to panic why is the bird flu being blown up in the media?
There is a reason as to why people are getting sick. The bird flu is deadly since 20 people have already died. People should be very careful in populated area. Wearing masks and gloves would be appropriate to keep the the virus from spreading.
Have researches found what has been causing the virus and how can people protect themselves from catching the virus?