"There is a real possibility that the virus will mutate and become easily transmissible between humans. If this occurs we could see the start of a new influenza pandemic." The WHO and FAO said that, while it is still relatively difficult for humans to be infected by the H5N1 virus, about 50 percent of those infected die. "The avian influenza virus is also not currently able to spread easily between humans, but influenza viruses are known for their ability to change quickly and can become more adapted to humans with dire consequences," the statement said. On Saturday a woman died from the H5N1 strain of the virus in Vietnam's first avian influenza fatality of the year. An eight-year-old girl, infected in January, has since recovered while a third victim is still in a Hanoi hospital.
The WHO and FAO said that, while it is still relatively difficult for humans to be infected by the H5N1 virus, about 50 percent of those infected die. "The avian influenza virus is also not currently able to spread easily between humans, but influenza viruses are known for their ability to change quickly and can become more adapted to humans with dire consequences," the statement said.
On Saturday a woman died from the H5N1 strain of the virus in Vietnam's first avian influenza fatality of the year. An eight-year-old girl, infected in January, has since recovered while a third victim is still in a Hanoi hospital.
http://www.macaudailytimesnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23629&Itemi d=32
[asdf's Crystal Ball of Doom™ Technology]
Not that a highly infectious variant with 'only' 10% or 20% mortality wouldn't be a terrible thing.
But the early variants of H5N1 were showing 80% mortality even with world class intensive care. If that's down to 50% after a couple of years, that's almost encouraging.
There seems to be a trade off between infection rates and mortality.
