|
|
Article: Avian flu could lead to 1918-like Spanish flu pandemic.
- Article from:
- Asian News International
- Article date:
- October 5, 2009
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 Al Bawaba (Middle East) Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Washington, Feb 11 (ANI): On comparing the recent avian strain with genetic ressortants of the post World War I virus, researchers found that H5N1 could lead to an avian flu pandemic just like the Spanish flu that spread in 1918.
The study was conducted by Carole Baskin, formerly assistant research professor at Arizona's Biodesign Institute, currently with Science Foundation Arizona, and an interdisciplinary team of collaborators.
H5N1 was found to replicate profusely within the first 24 hours, causing severe damage to respiratory tissues while sending the host's innate immune response into a lethal overdrive, reminiscent of the trajectory of the ...