Bird flu mutation sparks concern Genetic tweak makes virus favour human nose and throat.

news@nature.com ^ | 13 January 2006 | Declan Butler

[little jeremiah]

FYI - I think that's my mini pinglist.

[Termite_Commander]

The WHO's a little sketchy about pinpointing when we shift from one level to the next.

They say Level 3 consists of human infections, with trace human-to-human transmission cases thrown in. We've certainly reached this level, as evidenced by the HCW's getting sick in Vietnam while treating patients, to name one example.

Now, Level 4 is "Evidence of Increased Human-to-Human Transmission". But as I said, this is a little vague. I have heard that a criteria they look at is if the virus goes human-to-human-to-human. Apparently, once it moves from the index case to, say, a doctor, and then from the doctor to the doctor's wife, then it's considered Level 4. But that's just hearsay, and I don't know if it's official policy or not.

The current situation in Turkey is very murky. Level 4 scale transmission may have occurred, but it's difficult to be sure.

[Termite_Commander]

Here's the scale from the WHO website.

[Judith Anne]

Thanks for posting the scale. 18 official cases in Turkey, in different areas, with three official deaths, has certainly caught my attention.

[Eva]

The bucket of KFC reminds me that we should all be fighting the move to free range chickens because that is exactly what would help spread this virus if it hit the US.

[Termite_Commander]

The number's up to 21 now, with 4 deaths, but I don't blame you for getting confused. Things move so fast that it can take some serious effort to keep up. =)

[Judith Anne]

Thanks for the correction. *sad*

[Alter Kaker]

Mutation is a well known genetic phenomenon. Beneficial mutations are not.

Excuse me? This mutation vastly increases the ability of the bird flu virus to survive within a human host. If that isn't a beneficial mutation (from the virus' perspective) then nothing is.

Where do you people come up with this s***?