H5N1 virus lives for six days

Experts have warned that the H5N1 virus could survive longer, even in humid conditions. Dr. Robert Webster (USA) said that the H5N1 strain of virus that once caused bird flu in Hong Kong in 1997 survived only two days at 37 ^OC , and the current H5N1 strain can live up to six days.

Previously, avian influenza virus was active and easily transmitted from poultry to poultry during the cool northern hemisphere climate months (from October to March). But now it can survive for at least a week in hot and humid conditions - the typical climate of Southeast Asia.

It is particularly worrisome that this virus can now adapt to the water environment, increasing the risk of infection if the water is not disinfected. The warning was made at a conference on bird flu on two days 3 and 4-5 in Singapore.

* The US government yesterday announced a detailed plan to deal with bird flu. The plan specifies the 300 tasks that federal agencies must implement, assuming the worst case scenario is that a pandemic of bird flu broke out in the US, causing a crisis in 18 months and killing 1.9 million people.

THANH TRUC