It was initially believed that the virus could only be transmitted to
humans who have had direct contact with poultry. After 36 H7N9 deaths
and 131 of infections officially reported since the virus was first
identified, the worst case scenario that many feared may now be on the
horizon.
The
Sun China Morning Post is reporting that researches have confirmed that, not only can the virus be transmitted from one human to another, but it has gone airborne.
The H7N9 bird flu virus can be transmitted not
only through close contact but by airborne exposure, a team at the
University of Hong Kong found after extensive laboratory experiments.
Though the virus appears to have been brought under control recently,
the researchers urged the Hong Kong authorities to maintain strict
surveillance, which should include not only poultry but humans and pigs.
…
In the study, to be published today in the journal Science,
ferrets were used to evaluate the infectivity of H7N9. It was found the
virus could spread through the air, from one cage to another, albeit
less efficiently.
Inoculated ferrets were infected before the appearance of most
clinical symptoms. This means there may be more cases than have been
detected or reported.
“People may be transmitting the virus before they even know that they’ve got it,” Zhu said.
SCMP via Zero Hedge
It’s important to note that the Chinese government has never been
very straight forward about statistics, especially if they involve
negative perceptions of their country, so in all likelihood the H7N9
virus has infected countless others.
Though it’s been called one of the most lethal flu viruses in history
by WHO, Chinese scientists have downplayed the threat by claiming the
effects are “mild,” and the U.S. government has up until now made no
decision on whether to move forward with a vaccine for this particular
strain. Earlier reports indicate that the
virus is resistant to Tamiflu, a drug commonly used to treat most flu symptoms.
H7N9 is reportedly now under control in China, but we know for a fact that the virus
jumped to Taiwan
in April, and it may have spread elsewhere. Given that research shows
the virus can spread through the air before symptoms appear, it’s
certainly possibly that an outbreak is in its preliminary phase right
now.
Curiously, the United Nations reports that the virus has already cost
the global economy some $6.5 billion in losses. Those are massive
numbers given that only 131 official cases have been reported.
We’ll know soon enough if the Chinese government has controlled the
outbreak among its one billion population, and if it’s taken hold in
other countries. If it’s airborne, the contagion will spread like any
common cold or flu.
Pandemics have been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of
millions of people throughout history, and once they start they are very
hard to control. With H7N9 having a mutation rate that is eight times
faster than other flu viruses, it could very well become even deadlier
than it is now. Moreover, it could become even more contagious over
time.
Hattip Satori
No comments:
Post a Comment