The new strain of virus seems to have become endemic to Chinese fowl and seems to be spreading to farmers and at China's open air markets. A couple in west coast British Columbia are the first diagnosed cases of H7N9 bird flu in North America after they returned from a trip to China in January. they have recovered, and none
Photo Credit: Associated Press)

New bird flu threat, future solution

Authorities are concerned about a new strain of avian flu which is spreading across China.

This new strain is exhibiting different characteristics from other strains, and researchers have suggested that it may mutate further and risks becoming a pandemic.

Matthew Miller (PhD) is an assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences based at the Michael G. DeGroote Institute of Infectious Disease Research at McMaster University in Hamilton Ontario.

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Matthew Miller (PhD) is a specialist in virology and immunolity and is a professor based at the DeGroote Institute of Infectious Disease Research at McMaster University, in Hamilton Ontario © McMaster U

In a recent paper published last week in the science journal Nature an international group of scientists noted how the “bird” flu strain identified as H7N9 is mutating faster than previous strains as it mixes with other viruses.

The paper suggests that the virus seems to have spread throughout the bird population in China, especially chickens, and are calling for stronger control measures in that country.

The World Health Organization in a March 3rd report says so far there seems to be no human to human transmission but said there are over 600 cases of infection in China, with 227 deaths. There are fears the flu could become a pandemic if it mutates to enable wider transmission.

Professor Miller notes the predictions about the seasonal flu and vaccines to fight them, are made months in advance, and when flu season hits, the virus may have mutated making vaccines far less effective. Some others are simply becoming resistant.

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The World Health Organization says H7N9 has been reported in nine Chinese provinces, with over 200 deaths. © Andy Wong-Associated Press

However he says he and other scientists have been working on a universal vaccine. He notes they discovered the human body develops small amounts of anti-bodies to fight a conserved portion of the viral entry protein called hemagglutinin that the virus seems unable to mutate. They have been working on a vaccine which increases the antibody production in humans to fight essentially all flu virus strains.

He notes there is a lingering effect to this such that a one-time vaccination, and later booster shot would provide many years of protection.

This new vaccine is coming closer to being widely available with several clinical trials taking place this year and next.

He says this could go a long way towards reducing the tens of thousands of deaths worldwide caused by flu infections.

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