December 20, 2007

US navy team arrives in Pakistan to study bird flu samples

A second team of health experts arrived in Pakistan Wednesday (December 19) to analyze samples from suspected bird flu cases to determine how the virus spread and whether human-to-human transmission may have occurred.

The experts from the US Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3 in Cairo were expected to retest samples already gathered from a number of patients who were positive for the H5N1 bird flu virus in initial government analysis. Once the cases are confirmed, work will begin to piece together how the victims became infected.

"They are now investigating," said Orya Maqbool Jan Abbasi, spokesman for Pakistan's Health Ministry. "The next day or two is very important."

Five brothers were sickened last month in Abbotabad, north of Islamabad. Two died, one of whom was buried before tests were conducted. The other four tested positive for the virus. Up to six more people were suspected of being infected, including several who were in contact with poultry. The World Health Organization and the Health Ministry had initially said only four brothers were suspected of being infected, but one patient identified as a cousin was actually another brother.