Pandemic on the Brink? H5N1 Transmission Confirmed

The story below mad surprisingly little news yesterday. Nevertheless, Chinese health officials confirmed that a December flu strain was, in fact, a human-to-human transmission of avian influenza.

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According to officials, such transmissions have occurred and been recorded some 12 times in Asian countries. But this time the host, a 24-year-old man, died not long after transmitting the strain to his father.

Experts indicate, however, that the threat of a pandemic remains unlikely. The virus has yet to mutate into an easily transmissible strain.

The father's treatment of H5N1 with trial vaccines proved successful.

Photo courtesy of National Geographic.