Bird flu spreads to Southern California, infecting chickens, wild birds and other animals
The world seems to be caught in a deadly cycle of bird flu: From the moment the virus is detected, the human death toll mounts — only to rise again when vaccine production declines around the world. But so far, the virus seems to be able to travel from the human to the bird to the animal — spreading the pandemic faster.
An estimated 3 million people have been at risk of getting bird flu in the last two months; the highest number has been in the U.S., where more than 50 people have died. Bird flu has been found in almost every corner of the world, infecting chickens, ducks and wild birds, and spreading among domestic poultry, wild birds and other animals.
There’s not much known about the exact genetic sequence of bird flu, but the scientists are trying to learn as much as they can about the virus. So far, they have mapped the genome of the virus in birds and the genetic information that causes people not to respond to the shots contains at least some of that sequence.
Dr. Peter Daszak, leader of the global animal research branch’s bird flu unit, said the team’s work has not always been simple, but as a team, they’ve learned a lot. They’re working on the next step: developing vaccines and diagnostic tests to determine exactly when the bird flu is spreading from human to bird.
“The team works very well together,” he said. “They like to get their hands dirty. They don’t do things in isolation. They can be very productive working cooperatively.”
Dr. Peter Daszak, leader of the global animal research branch’s bird flu unit, said the team’s work has not always been simple, but as a team, they’ve learned a lot. They’re working on the next step: developing vaccines and diagnostic tests to determine exactly when the bird flu is spreading from human to bird.
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