No proof bird flu can be transmitted from human to human, says WHO

Main Category: Bird Flu / Avian Flu
Also Included In: Flu / Cold / SARS
Article Date: 22 May 2005 - 11:00 PDT

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We still do not have conclusive proof that avian (bird) flu can be transmitted from human-to-human, said Peter Cordingley, from the World Health Organization. He said there are some cases that seem odd, but there is no compelling case.

The strain most scientists are worried about is the H5N1 bird flu virus. It is the most deadly, having killed dozens of people throughout South East Asia. This strain, if it were to evolve and become a human-to-human transmissible virus, could bring about one of the worst global flu pandemics this planet has ever seen. If the virus were to evolve in this way, say experts, it is most likely that it would do so in pigs - humans would then catch the evolved bird flu virus from pigs, and then pass it on to other humans.

A few days ago scientists found pigs in Indonesia infected with the H5N1 virus.

Indonesia has just confirmed its first case of a human with bird flu (H5N1). The patient works in a chicken farm. Other scientists say it is too early to be sure, as false positives have occurred in Indonesia before - we should wait a bit for the results of follow-up tests.