First H6N1 infection detected in humans

Bird flu virus H6N1 jumped on humans

18/11/2013

Influenza viruses that have spread from the animal to humans have caused quite a stir in the past several times worldwide. Swine flu and avian influenza have since become known to the general public. For the first time, Taiwanese researchers from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention have been able to detect an infection with the bird flu virus H6N1 in humans. In the worst case, the pathogens could evolve to be transmitted from person to person, triggering a pandemic, the researchers feared.

The H6N1 virus is one of the most common viruses in wild and domesticated bird species, but so far no human infection with this virus has been reported. This has now changed with the finding of Taiwanese researchers. As in the trade magazine „Lancet Respiratory Medicine“ A 20-year-old woman hospitalized with influenza-like symptoms and respiratory symptoms in May 2013 reported a H6N1 influenza virus in a throat swab.

Risk of a worldwide pandemic?
The researchers write that „the first report of a human infection with a wild avian influenza A H6N1 virus“ be. The viruses have proved that they can evolve into pathogens responsible for human pathogens and, in the worst case, threaten the risk of human-to-human transmissions in the future, according to the scientists. „Our report highlights the continued need to prepare for a pandemic of unpredictable and complex bird flu viruses“, The researchers continue to report. Although the 20-year-old patient was helped relatively quickly with the aid of common flu medication and so far she has acted like the rare case of an infection with H6N1, but according to the Taiwanese scientists, a final assessment of the risk is not yet possible. (Fp)

Picture: Aka