In Russia returned avian flu

June 19, 13:05 Peter STRAVINSKY
Avian influenza, though a few years ago, this threat to humanity, returned program in Russia. In Ovyurskogo area Tyva Republic, which borders with Mongolia, in the lake Ubsa-Nur discovered the bodies of 85 wild birds

Already established that the cause of death of birds was the bird flu. Because of the risk of a dangerous virus in the region entered the regime of emergency. Are quarantine measures. The first outbreak of bird flu occurred in Tuva in 2006. Then killed 4,000 ducks.

First human infection with the virus of bird flu was recorded in 1997 in Hong Kong. It was found that the infection is deadly. The first epidemic began in 2004 when the disease in poultry has spread to Asia and Europe, and cases of infection and deaths have become frequent. Since then more than 250 of the nearly 400 known infections resulted in the death of patients.

The main fear of doctors is a mutation of the strain H5N1, from which it can be transmitted from person to person. The consequence of this change will be a pandemic of avian influenza, the victims of which by various estimates can be from 30-40 million to a third of the world's population.