WHO tests IRAQ sample 4 Antigenic Shift

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

    2/5/2006

ARBIL - Two teams from the World Health Organisation are in Iraq to help 

fight off the spread of bird flu in Kurdistan which has claimed its first 

victim in the region, officials said.

"At the moment this is an agricultural emergency," said Sam Yingst, a 

member of the team in Baghdad.

"But we believe that there is a possibility that it may become a human 

public emergency though it will require a significant change in the nature 

of the virus."

Iraq confirmed that a 15-year-old girl in Kurdistan had died from the 

H5N1 virus in January.

Initial reports from a WHO laboratory in Amman said that test results for 

the virus were negative, but Iraqi authorities later said that the girl was a 

bird flu victim.

Tests are still under way in Britain on virus samples from the girl's uncle, 

who also died of a pulmonary infection, and from a woman who hails 

from the same region and is currently in hospital.

Yingst said the tests on the second individual, which are currently 

underway in Britain, would be the key.

"We will come to know from the tests of the second 

person whether or not the virus has shifted or drifted, but at the moment 

there is no indication of that because, had it occurred, there would have 

been more cases," he told reporters.

* Vietnam and Turkey both observed antigenic shifts. This is not a good   

   thing. 

http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=106810

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: WHO tests IRAQ sample 4 Antigenic Shift Posted: February 05 2006 at 9:55am
	2/5/2006 ARBIL - Two teams from the World Health Organisation are in Iraq to help fight off the spread of bird flu in Kurdistan which has claimed its first victim in the region, officials said. "At the moment this is an agricultural emergency," said Sam Yingst, a member of the team in Baghdad. "But we believe that there is a possibility that it may become a human public emergency though it will require a significant change in the nature of the virus." Iraq confirmed that a 15-year-old girl in Kurdistan had died from the H5N1 virus in January. Initial reports from a WHO laboratory in Amman said that test results for the virus were negative, but Iraqi authorities later said that the girl was a bird flu victim. Tests are still under way in Britain on virus samples from the girl's uncle, who also died of a pulmonary infection, and from a woman who hails from the same region and is currently in hospital. Yingst said the tests on the second individual, which are currently underway in Britain, would be the key. "We will come to know from the tests of the second person whether or not the virus has shifted or drifted, but at the moment there is no indication of that because, had it occurred, there would have been more cases," he told reporters. * Vietnam and Turkey both observed antigenic shifts. This is not a good thing. http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=106810

Ella Fitzgerald Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Valued Member Joined: January 15 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 586	Post Options Post Reply Quote Ella Fitzgerald Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 05 2006 at 10:02am
	What happened to the 12-162 people that have been reported to have it and are in quarantine? Is that not why they are there? Also-two teams of WHO...makes you wonder...... And great job on arriving in a timely manner. WHO needs tamiflu?

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 05 2006 at 4:08pm
	I expect that we'll here about them soon. The WHO already have a couple teams in northern Iraq. Expect to hear more news from Russia as the Spring migration starts, as well as China as it starts it's flu season An Iraqi tissue sample has been sent to London to determine if the virus is any different than that of Turkey. The amount of changes that take place indicate how quickly it is coming closer to a jump. That is the big question mark. Every sample they take provides a better picture of the degree of change/polymorphism/antigenic shift).