New deadly strain of bird flu may have emerged

“Experts are concerned about the spread of a new strain of bird flu that has already killed one woman in China,” BBC News reports. The new strain, which has evolved from an existing bird flu virus called H10N8, has infected two people in China. A case report in The Lancet medical journal warns that potential for a new pandemic “should not be underestimated”. Their genetic tests of the strain suggests it has adapted to infect humans more easily.  That said, experts suggest there is currently no cause for alarm. There is no evidence that the new strain can pass between humans. Also, the woman who died of the new strain had pre-existing health conditions, including heart disease and high blood pressure, which may have made her more vulnerable to the effects of infection. And for people living in the UK, the risk of contracting bird flu is extremely low. The UK became officially free of bird flu in 2008. It is likely that the Chinese authorities will closely monitor the situation to assess whether there is a potential for a new pandemic to emerge.   What is bird flu? Bird flu, or avian flu, is an infectious viral illness that spreads among birds. In rare cases it can affect humans. It is usually spread to humans by close and prolonged contact with infected birds. Symptoms are the same as seasonal flu but there is a risk that an infected individual can develop complications, such as pneumonia, which can be fatal.  There are many types of bird flu, most of which...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Swine flu QA articles Medical practice Source Type: news