Last year more than 600 people died from winter flu in the UK
Thursday November 3,2011
By Jo Willey, Health Correspondent
A NEW strain of killer flu which could spread to Britain within 24 hours is “one of the biggest biological threats of our time”, experts warned.
The alert comes after people started to fall victim to seasonal flu and the more virulent swine flu at the same time.
Such a rare incidence creates the risk of a lethal mutation, leading to an “ominous” super-flu virus for which humans have almost no immunity, said medical scientists.
Dr Peter Hotez, a world-renowned infectious disease expert, warned: “Highly infectious strains of the virus against which humans have little defence can spread from one continent to another within 24 hours.” He said the fact scientists had detected the rare double-flu infection highlighted the need for extreme vigilance against new killer strains around the world.
Dr Hotez, president of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, praised the scientists who had made the discovery.
But he warned: “We are required to remain vigilant against one of the biggest biological threats of our time.”.... http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/281388/Britain-on-alert-for-new-super-flu
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