The World Health Organization ( WHO ) is working with Kampuchean authorities to investigate two confirm human cases of H5N1 chick flu in the state , functionary declare this week .
But while the office has been described by the WHO as “ worrying ” , experts have note that there is not yet any grounds that the disease has adapted for human - to - human transmission .
Cambodian health authorities confirmed the death of an 11 - twelvemonth - sometime girl from the disease Thursday – the first bang human case of razz flu in the rural area in nine years , per the BBC . Her father has also test positive for the virus , functionary note , while another 11 contact have all tested disconfirming .
Human cases of bird flu are rare , as we miss the sense organ in our throats , noses , and upper respiratory tract that are most susceptible to the virus . Most human infections come about in those who have direct and frequent contact with razz – which most experts presently think is what belike happened in Cambodia .
“ The hazard from this computer virus to your average person on the street right now is very low , ” Richard Webby , theatre director of the WHO Collaborating Center for Studies on the Ecology of Influenza in Animals and Birds at St. Jude Children ’s Hospital , told theNew York Times .
The find that the lady friend ’s father was also positive for the computer virus melody set health official on high alarum , however . While hundreds of human cases of bird flu have been reported over the years – and indeed , in the decade before Cambodia ’s last typesetter’s case , the res publica commemorate 56 human cases of H5N1 infection , 37 of which were fateful – any evidence of human - to - human transmittance may signal the onset of the major planet ’s next with child pandemic .
“ The global H5N1 situation is worrying given the wide spread of the computer virus in chick around the cosmos and the increasing account of case in mammalian include humans , ” Sylvie Briand , the manager of epidemic and pandemic preparation and bar , narrate reportersin a closet briefing on Friday . “ WHO takes the peril from this computer virus seriously and urges heightened vigilance from all rural area . ”
While the fact that so many of the family ’s tight contacts have tested negative for the computer virus is no doubt reassuring , Briand noted that antivirals and vaccine for the disease are already uncommitted . However , they would take to be updated to more close jibe the strain of H5N1 presently circulating – a process that could take four to five months , Webby counsel .
Luckily , despite fears over the current subtype ’s transmissibility and human death numbers among hoot – plus concerns over its apparent ability to taint some mammalian – only eight human eccentric worldwide have been reported to the WHO . All of those were in people who had tight middleman with infected snort , and most caused fair meek illnesses .
Nevertheless , the WHO has confirmed that the computer virus will “ postulate to be monitor closely ” to see if it is mutate into a form that can spread among humans . In the lag , Webby apprise , people should take care to avoid contact with birds that may be infect – particularly with the current subtype prove so virulent among avian species .
“ [ transmittal among people is ] very , very rarefied , ” he told the New York Times . “ But it ’s not zero . And that ’s mainly because there ’s just so many more infected razz around right now . ”
