New Influenza Research
Written by JDPGlobal | Tuesday, 26 July 2005
British scientists have discovered that common influenza mutates at a higher rate than previously thought. It is this mutation that worries scientists around the world, not least the World Health Organisation (WHO) based in Geneva. These medical authorities believe the avian bird flu, associated as an influenza-type virus, would be able to spread rapidly from human to human, just as the common winter ‘flu does.
If the current virus, known as HN51 and HN52 was to mutate then it could in theory kill millions of people around the globe.
The British government has stockpiled Tamiflu which is an antibiotic manufactured and marketed by the Swiss pharmaceutical Roche. This antibiotic is the most effective in dealing with the symptoms of this virus.
Significant more research is required to develop an effective vaccine, in the meantime however, the WHO is stressing that all governments, especially in south East Asia, be honest about their avian bird flu status.
