Human-to-human bird flu transmission confirmed, UN predicts death of 150 million people

[ 24 May 2006 15:30 ]

Human-to-human transmission of bird flu has been confirmed in Indonesia (APA). The mutated form of the virus is the danger that scientists expected.

The spread of the bird flu virus from human to human can claim millions of lives. According to pessimistic forecasts of the UN experts, the spread of the virus from human to human may lead to the death of at least 150 million people. Russian head sanitary inspector Gennadi Inishenko predicts 50 million and Russian Emergencies Ministry predicts 27 million might die from this virus.
The possibility of spread of the H5N1 virus from human to human was confirmed in Indonesia. The virus has been found on three children, who stayed in the same room with the infected woman.
The World Health Organization has investigated the death of six of seven members of a family, who contracted the deadly virus in Indonesia. It was confirmed that the 10-year-old child contracted the virus from his aunt and it spread to the father and other members of the family. The WHO is now conducting a large-scale investigation into the case of human-to-human transmission of bird flu.
The Health Ministry spokesman Samaye Mammadova told APA that no emergency sanitary regime is due to be held in Azerbaijan related to the investigation of new mutated form of the bird flu virus. She said precautions are being implemented.
The H5N1 virus has already killed more than 120 people worldwide since 2003. It has also devastated poultry stocks. /APA/

[link to en.apa.az]