A study published today in The Lancet journal by Yu Wang and his team at The Centre of Disease Control and Prevention in Beijing, suggests that the H5N1 influenza virus may be able to spread from human to human.
The study looked at a case of bird flu in the Jiangso province of China where both a father and son contracted the Influenza H5N1 strain, commonly known as bird flu because it is thought to be contracted through contact with poultry.In spite of treatment in hospital the son died from the virus but his father’s symptoms were caught at an early stage and he was treated effectively. The study examines the possibility that the father contracted the virus through close contact nursing his ill son. As the father had no contact with poultry in the weeks before his illness, this study raises the question that the similar genetic make up of the father and son could have played a part in the father contracting the illness from his son.
‘This study indicates that human to human transmission of H5N1 influenza may occur but there is no virological proof.’ said Dr Keith Prowse, Chairman of the British Lung Foundation.
‘The authors suggest that transmission within families may be influenced by an individual’s genetic makeup. Earlier treatment of contacts may prevent or lessen the affects of the virus. It's imperative that international agencies continue to cooperate on further research'
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