Mutations in H5N1 in Turkey

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the analysis of H5N1 virus samples from two victims in Turkey showed a change in one gene. However, it is still too early to conclude whether this mutation is important.

An employee is catching ducks for destruction in a small village near the eastern town of Dogubayazit, Turkey

The mutation, found in one of two samples, allows H5N1 to attach more easily to human cells than to poultry cells. This is a change in the direction that viruses will be able to infect people more easily than today.

The WHO virologist Mike Perdue said: '' We think this may be a small step in the virus' human adaptation effort. However, this mutation has only been discovered in one person and it is difficult to reach a conclusion immediately.

Perdue added, WHO is not concerned about the mutation mentioned above. The reason is that this mutation was discovered before, in Hong Kong in 2003 and in Vietnam in 2005.

That mutation did not affect bird flu progress, virus behavior or human infection patterns.

Flu viruses often mutate rapidly and experts must monitor them regularly. Many mutations are meaningless or only occur in a small group of viruses. However, experts are closely monitoring H5N1 to detect as soon as possible important mutations.

Meanwhile, the number of H5N1 cases in Turkey has risen in a short time and the cause is being investigated. On January 13, the number of people infected with H5N1 increased from 15 to 18 people.

All these victims may have been in close contact with infected poultry. Samples of some people are being transferred to England for analysis.