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medpundit |
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Thursday, January 12, 2006The first genetic analysis of H5N1 virus samples from two of the three Turkish victims has revealed one change that may make it easier for human beings to contract the virus directly from birds. However, a similar mutation was observed in Hong Kong in 2003 and in Vietnam last year, and did not lead to a significant increase in infections. The mutation is one that changes the hemagglutinin protein on the virus's surface - a protein that helps it attach ot the cells of its target. On the plus side, the same mutation has been seen elsewhere in the avian flu virus without increasing the rate of spread or its mortality rate, so it's probably not as consequential as the headline would lead us to believe. "Mutated" sounds so ominous. posted by Sydney on 1/12/2006 09:54:00 PM 0 comments 0 Comments: |
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