April 16, 2008

Bird flu suspected of mutation to adapt to environment
 

Virologists and foreign authorities studying the outbreaks in South Korea have reported seeing different bird flu patterns than before, which may be a hint that the virus is mutating.

The H5N1 strain could also be mutating as its recent re-emergence occurred in April, a warm month, when it was previously thought to thrive in cold weather.

Bird flu is now also spreading faster than expected. South Korea first confirmed a bird flu outbreak in Gimje on April 2, but it had spread to six nearby farms within two weeks. On Monday (April 14, 2008), South Korea had confirmed 20 bird flu cases with several suspected cases reported at Iksan and North Jeolla Province.

South Korean authorities are also concerned that bird flu is now beginning to mutate in a way that transmission between humans would soon be possible.

In December 2007, Chinese health officials confirmed that a 52 years old man had caught H5N1 bird flu from his son. The disturbing part was that although the son had been exposed to poultry before, the father had not come into contact with any poultry.

The widespread virus strains in birds around the world has made mutations much more easier, including a mutation that allows the virus to live more easily in a person's respiratory system, according to Dr Michael Osterholm, director of the Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Policy.

The South Korean government has been criticised for not taking strong measures against outbreaks, but it has assured that the warmer weather will kill the virus. However, foreign authorities are skeptical of South Korea's stance, as the mutating H5N1 has proven to be rather unpredictable.