Indonesia 'risks bird flu pandemic', By Frank Walker
February 26, 2006
A LACK of funding and expertise in Indonesia is increasing the risk of bird flu evolving into a global human pandemic, an Australian expert on the virus has said.
Andrew Jeremijenko says there is data to show the H5N1 virus, which has been killing humans in Indonesia, is different from the one that is killing birds.
"So far the investigations have been unable to match the viruses," he told the ABC yesterday. "They don't seem to be able to match the viruses from the human case to the animal case. And that is putting the world at threat.
"Every human case is another potential mutation that could turn this virus into a pandemic virus."
Dr Jeremijenko has worked in Indonesia for eight years, most recently leading influenza surveillance studies for a US naval medical research group.
February 26, 2006
A LACK of funding and expertise in Indonesia is increasing the risk of bird flu evolving into a global human pandemic, an Australian expert on the virus has said.
Andrew Jeremijenko says there is data to show the H5N1 virus, which has been killing humans in Indonesia, is different from the one that is killing birds.
"So far the investigations have been unable to match the viruses," he told the ABC yesterday. "They don't seem to be able to match the viruses from the human case to the animal case. And that is putting the world at threat.
"Every human case is another potential mutation that could turn this virus into a pandemic virus."
Dr Jeremijenko has worked in Indonesia for eight years, most recently leading influenza surveillance studies for a US naval medical research group.
posted by Faustus and FrankenKitty at 8:04 AM
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