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update:Nov 8, 2006
China's bird flu experts deny new strain exists
China's leading bird flu experts have reportedly
refuted scientists' claims of a new strain of bird flu in the
country.
Chen said that the reports circulating about the strain are “subjective and
arbitraryâ€.
"The so-called 'Fujian-like virus' is not a new variant of the virus," she
said, "Gene sequence analysis of the virus shows that it shares high conformity
with the H5N1 virus that was isolated in Hunan when bird flu broke out in early
2004."
Samples from every domestic bird flu outbreak are sent for isolation and
gene sequence analysis at Chen's lab.
"These viruses all remain steady in gene type and there is no marked change
in their biological characteristics," she said.
Chen also defended the effectiveness of China's bird flu vaccine, saying
that it had a good effect, in response to the report's surmise that the current
vaccine was less effective for the "Fujian-like virus".
"There is no proof that five of them were infected by a new mutated virus,â€
Shu said.
Image courtesy of 3dscience.com
Editor WorldPoultry
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