It has now been widely reported that seven members of a family living in Indonesia contracted the H5N1 avian influenza virus, and six have died. The Ministry of Health in Indonesia and the World Health Organization (WHO) have intensified their investigation of the situation. At this point, according to WHO, “the investigation has found no evidence of spread within the general community and no evidence that efficient human-to-human transmission has occurred.”
How did this happen? While we still don’t know for sure, we do know that family members spent a prolonged period of time in the same room as the initial patient who was in a phase of severe illness and highly symptomatic. Keep in mind, this does not mean that the virus has mutated to an easily transmittable form. It is also very important to note that, according to WHO, lab testing of the viruses showed no evidence of mutations associated with a possible resistance to the anti viral medication Tamiflu.
For additional information on the bird flu, please read the following entry that we posted in response to a recent airing of a movie about a possible bird flu pandemic.
How did this happen? While we still don’t know for sure, we do know that family members spent a prolonged period of time in the same room as the initial patient who was in a phase of severe illness and highly symptomatic. Keep in mind, this does not mean that the virus has mutated to an easily transmittable form. It is also very important to note that, according to WHO, lab testing of the viruses showed no evidence of mutations associated with a possible resistance to the anti viral medication Tamiflu.
For additional information on the bird flu, please read the following entry that we posted in response to a recent airing of a movie about a possible bird flu pandemic.
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