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Live H5N1 avian flu virus can be isolated in the blood of its human victims, a finding that will be reported by Thai researchers in an upcoming issue of a scientific journal. Evidence that H5N1 can spread via the bloodstream to parts of the body not normally attacked by influenza viruses confirms this particular flu strain poses special challenges for both patient treatment and infection control, experts say.
It also raises theoretical questions about the safety of the donated blood system should H5N1 trigger a pandemic. If you take any blood This showed that the virus was living in the blood," said Dr. Brown, who was not an author of the letter. While some types of viruses spread well in blood, cases of viremia - viral infection in the bloodstream - have only rarely been reported with influenza.
A blood sample drawn on the day he died contained high levels of live virus. The finding helps to explain reports that some humans with H5N1 experience what is called systemic infection, with the flu virus spreading beyond its normal home in the respiratory track to organs that would typically go untouched by human flu viruses. In a worrying development, the World Health Organization is reporting that a new strain of bird flu has infected people who have reportedly never come in contact with poultry.
The H7N9 strain, first discovered in humans last month, has so far been blamed for 16 deaths. Typically bird flu spreads only to those who've handled sick birds or come in close proximity to them. But a WHO spokesperson told Reuters that 40 percent of individuals with the flu don't fit that criteria, an alarming situation that heightens potential for a pandemic outbreak.
Worse yet, a four-year-old has tested positive for the flu while exhibiting no ill symptoms, a situation that could make tracking H7N9 extremely difficult.
Hartl made clear that the WHO has seen no evidence that "sustained" human-to-human transmission is occurring, but he didn't dismiss the possibility. In fact, two suspected cases of inter-human transmission are currently under investigation. Thus far China has reported 77 infections of the virus — which combines traits from three other strains— spread across 11 locations.
The World Health Organization plans to dispatch a number of leading experts to help assist in researching H7N9. Subscribe to get the best Verge-approved tech deals of the week. Cookie banner We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from.
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