Tuesday, February 3, 2009

An exclusive interview with the avian flu hunters: Guan Yi

February 4, 2009 0
Source: Biological Qualcomm

Abstract
: The first month of 2009, there have been eight cases of human avian influenza cases have occurred (of which five cases of death). For a time, everyone have to talk about "bird" terribly. At present, when the winter-spring season, high rate of bird flu, people are infected with avian flu possible? In the end we can not eat chicken? Avian influenza is mainly transmitted through what? ... ... With these questions, biological Qualcomm had an interview with an authority on bird flu experts, the Hong Kong Department of Microbiology, University Professor of Guan Yi.

The first month of 2009, there have been eight cases of human avian influenza cases have occurred (of which five cases of death). For a time, everyone have to talk about "bird" terribly. At present, when the winter-spring season, high rate of bird flu, people are infected with avian flu possible? In the end we can not eat chicken? Avian influenza is mainly transmitted through what? ... ... With these questions, biological Qualcomm had an interview with an authority on bird flu experts, the Hong Kong Department of Microbiology, University Professor of Guan Yi.
Guan, Professor, President of the Hong Kong Department of Microbiology, University professor, is the avian flu virus, one of the international authority. In 2003, he first isolated SARS pathogen, coronavirus; in 2005, the avian flu outbreak, he was a pioneer in studies of avian flu experts. So by the U.S. "Time" magazine: medical hero; was affectionately known as: The avian flu hunters.
Biological Qualcomm site has been concerned about the fight against SARS and bird flu scientists, as early as in 2005, biological Qualcomm had an interview with Professor Guan, hence the occurrence of bird flu, biological pass an interview with reporters once again, Professor Guan, he happily accepted the biological Qualcomm interview.

Biological Qualcomm: human infection with bird flu which the main way?
Guan Yi Professor believes that the current poultry remains a major source of transmission, three quarters of cases have a direct or indirect contact with the history of poultry. As some experts believe that migratory birds may be carrying the virus across the border, leading to human infection with avian influenza, Tube Professor does not agree. He pointed out that the migratory birds is the spread of avian flu played a catalytic role, such as the 2005 outbreak of avian flu in Southeast Asia, from migratory birds on the role of adding fuel to the flames.

Biological Qualcomm: At present, it was the dissemination of the phenomenon of bird flu, but no poultry outbreaks of avian influenza reported, this is why?
Poultry for avian flu virus sensitive, while the person is not the bird flu virus natural host. In poultry bird flu outbreak did not happen, the people actually infected with bird flu. China the second half of 2008 only two cases of avian influenza outbreaks communications, one example is the duck in June Jiangmen H5N1 bird flu outbreak; Another example is in December in Hong Kong, Yuen Long, the outbreak of bird flu in chickens. In addition there are no outbreaks of avian flu.
Professor tube now, and the mainland reunification by the Government Procurement of bird flu vaccine to poultry vaccination, he did not know the vaccine strains used, it is not clear now how the immune poultry. However, Professor Guan said that the vaccine can only protect poultry from avian flu does not kill the bird flu virus, so that no animal outbreak of avian flu, but the bird flu virus remains a large area, and this is a dissemination of avian influenza reasons.

Biological Qualcomm Comments: Why do people continue to distribute the avian flu, and poultry have not been reports of large-scale outbreak, this is some worth worrying about. It is reported that now all the bird flu vaccine by the national unity government procurement, compulsory vaccination of poultry to the So. Integrated at this stage there is no animal outbreak of avian influenza situation, a possible explanation is that poultry accepted immunity after vaccination is no longer the outbreak of avian flu. Poultry vaccines only get immunity and can not kill the virus, it may be infected poultry in a large area, around the sporadic cases are basically with poultry caused by direct contact. Another point worth worrying about is that in the role of vaccine, the virus is in a restrained state, the existence of immune pressure on the virus will continue to self-evolution to adapt to the new environment, this immune pressure may promote the avian influenza virus further variation, which is no vaccine to protect humans also more dangerous.

Biological Qualcomm: Could it be that migratory birds directly to the avian influenza virus transmission to humans do?
There are rumors that migratory avian flu virus has given people the. Professor Yi Guan of this humorous and said that if the person is transmitted from migratory birds on the bird flu, then the sick person who will contact with poultry on bird flu occurred in poultry led to it! Is it also more than a bird for avian flu even more sensitive?
Professor tube direct spread of bird flu migratory birds is unlikely. Some migratory birds for avian flu virus itself is not sensitive, and they contact with humans are not many opportunities. In contrast, people with opportunities for exposure to poultry is much greater.

Biological Tong: It is now the spread of avian influenza in high-risk it?
According to Tube Professor of more than ten years experience in poultry of avian influenza peak in November of each year, the arrival of the 1-year, in February, and from the previous view of human avian influenza, but also started to decline since March, then the two outbreaks occurred at a time is coincide. However, since the 2006 discovery of a Fujian strain, the whole year have occurred in the dangers of bird flu. This highly toxic strain of Fujian has been popular in southern China led to occupy. Therefore, if prevention and control of poultry properly, people will be infected at any time the risk of avian influenza virus.

Biological Tong: It is now a popular strain of avian flu strain in southern China, Qinghai Fujian strain or strains of this?
Professor tubes that most people infected with bird flu is the Fujian strain of the virus ( "Fujian-type virus" (Fujian-like, FJ-like)), a highly pathogenic strain of the virus strong. According to Professor control the information that China published in the Gene Bank on the human avian influenza virus sequence data indicate that the domestic strain of the virus in 19, with the exception of a case on behalf of the Northern line (Qinghai strain), the others were caused by the Fujian strain.
Fujian strain of avian flu news background:
Fujian strain of avian influenza virus is Professor Guan March 5, 2005 in Fujian Province, an isolated H5N1 virus, which is already a variant of avian influenza virus strains, Professor Guan This research report will be published in 2006 10 PNAS last month, when they are concerned about this strain of virus could trigger a new round of global infections storm.

2006 Biological Qualcomm reports: Yi Guan and colleagues in South Asia in recent years has been testing the market for sale of poultry infected with avian flu situation, the study is the longest cycle worldwide avian flu surveillance study. In 2004 and 2005, they found that 0.9% of the sale of poultry to carry H5N1, including 2% of the ducks.

In June 2006, the research team found that the sale of poultry virus carrying rate of 2.4 percent - an increase of nearly 3 times. Now, the rate of infection of ducks has increased to 3.3%. Guan Yi, who think that the reason is a new category of Fujian strain of the virus, the virus strain from the first time in a duck in Fujian province in the detection of a virus evolved. This new strain of the virus led to 9 months in 2005 the infection rate of poultry increased by 3%, and by June 2006 so that the infection rate when an increase of 95%. (See specific reports: http://www.ebiotrade.com/newsf/2006-11/200611690747.htm)

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