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Academics found that bird flu is similar to the most deadly virus at the beginning of last century.
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[Author: Cold Sword Source: China Medical Journal Published: 2005- 10- 14 Editor: Roland]
A series of research results published in the recently published American magazines Science and Nature show that avian influenza virus is similar to the deadliest virus in history. The virus triggered a global epidemic at the beginning of last century, causing the fear of 654.38+0.5 billion deaths. 10 year 10 5, scientists' concerns about this virus further increased.
Scientists studied1918 ~1919, which killed 50 million people, and found that it had the same characteristics as H5N 1 avian influenza virus. The analysis of this regenerative pathogen shows that, just like its modern "cousin", this virus has begun to appear in poultry and spread to humans through mutation, which is highly contagious and fatal.
Another related study confirmed that a similar series of mutations also appeared in H5N 1 virus, which has caused at least 60 deaths in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia. This may mean that the virus that human beings are encountering now began to evolve along the path of 19 18 when avian viruses became human killers.
JeffreyTaubenberger of the American Institute of Military Pathology participated in the above two studies. He said: "This shows that H5N 1 virus may have the ability to infect humans, thus increasing the risk of its large-scale epidemic." This research work is helpful to develop drugs for this highly lethal influenza virus, and can provide a "list" of dangerous genetic characteristics, and improve researchers' monitoring of harmful virus types.
Studies have also shown that Spanish influenza virus spreads directly from poultry to humans across species. The less serious 1957 and 1968 influenza outbreaks began when the avian influenza virus first combined its genes into the virus species that had spread in humans. This mutation occurs in humans or animals, and both viruses can exist in humans or animals at the same time.
Now that the direct jump between species has happened, it will happen again, and modern bird flu may evolve into a form that can spread between humans in a new way. "For H5N 1, it may develop in any direction," said Dr Taubenberger. "H5N 1 may spread in the form of modern human influenza virus, or it may be completely adapted to humans like the virus of 19 18."
A week before the publication of this study, David nabarro, who was appointed as the United Nations Coordinator for Avian Influenza and Human Influenza, said that avian influenza may cause 65.438+0.5 billion deaths. Indonesia is the fourth country to be attacked by H5N 1 influenza virus, and reported the seventh human death caused by influenza-a 23-year-old male patient. Although only three cases have been confirmed to be caused by this virus.
Dr Taubenberger's research was recently published in Nature, and the genetic map of Spanish influenza virus H 1N 1 was published. The virus material used comes from the body of a female patient in Alaska permafrost region. Under the guidance of Dr. Taubenberger, another research group of the US Centers for Disease Control used this information to "recreate" the virus H 1N 1. The research results were published in the recently published American magazine Science. The vials containing the recombinant virus are kept in the safe laboratory of the US Centers for Disease Control. This virus has devastating power, even leading to the death of young and healthy people.
Dr Taubenberger said, "In the case of H5N 1 virus, we found some similar features. This indicates that H5 series viruses may be in the process of mutation that can be transmitted to humans. If these changes occur, it will follow the evolutionary path similar to 19 18 epidemic influenza. "
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The last century's influenza pandemic 19 18 "Spanish influenza" reportedly caused 50 million deaths. 19 18 started at the beginning of the year and reached its peak at the end of the year. 19 19 quietly disappeared. The cause was unknown at that time. Influenza virus was identified in 1933, and Spanish influenza virus is now called H 1N 1 variant. Its pathogenicity is extremely strong, leading to pneumonia and bleeding of infected people, and the mortality rate of adults aged 18 ~34 is the highest.
1957 "Asian flu" broke out, killing about 4 million people.
1968 "Hong Kong Influenza" broke out, resulting in about 1 10,000 deaths.