photo: bbc
A new avian flu strain, previously unknown, has been detected in three Chinese, two of which have died and the third one is in critical condition.
The first two victims fell ill in February and have since died. They were 27 and 87 years old.
The third person, a woman, is 35 years old.
So far, there is no evidence of person to person infection, but the source of the virus remains unknown.
Two of the people infected are from the Shanghai area, while the third is from Chuzhou province.
All three manifested their illness with severe coughing, and pneumonia.
The new strain has been labeled H7N9, and it is a virus that was not thought to have been transmitted to humans before, signaling a possible break in the zoonotic barrier.
The team studying the strain is testing its virality, i.e. its human to human transmission ability.
Most avian flu viruses are not able to infect humans.
Source: BBC 3.31.13
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