Bird Flu:Shorter interval between Outbreaks

 
Second instance of Avian influenza spreading across the globe and to Countries far away from the Southest Asia, the 'Epicentre', for the virus, seems real.

The lethal H5N1 virus has been recently found in a farm in Suffolk in Britain. Many countries where Bird Flu outbreaks were reported last time have been affected this time as well.

Starting in Southest Asia, the H5N1 virus found in birds in Britain, Hungry and Russia. Egypt and Nigeria, shows some kind of a similar spread across countries. No outbreak of the virus has been reported in India till date.

Indonesia appears to be the worst hit; five of the six humans infected with the virus have died.

In Vietnam, three outbreaks occurred in December in Ca Mau province and one in Bac Lien province.

China has not reported any outbreak so far. While the flu has been marching from one country to another infecting birds and in some cases,  humans, one face is becoming apparent- as long as the virus persists in birds, be it poultry or wild birds, avian flu outbreaks are bound to recur. Only the time interval between outbreaks cannot be determined for sure.

(The Hindu, 8th February 2007)