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Fatal Human H5N1 Bird Flu Clusters in Qinghai China
Recombinomics Commentary
July 15, 2005
Four human deaths in Zhiyiguodong of Qinghai province
A1. Li Tang-fei, a 67 year old female herdsman. She had a history of
chronic pneumonia. Her main cause of death is respiratory failure
related to acute pneumonia as a result of cross infection between
H5N1RW4 and H5N1RK7.
A2. Wan Dou-shan, a 71 year old male herdsman. He had history of
severe gastritis. His main cause of death is respiratory failure
related to acute pneumonia as a result of H5N1RW4 infections.
A3. Wan Qing-shan, a 45 year old male herdsman. His main cause of
death is respiratory failure as a result of H5N1RW4 infections.
A4. Wan zhui-ma, a 27 year old female herdsman. Her main cause of
death is reapiratory failure related to acute viral infections in her
lungs.
Case A1 and A4 are relatives. Poultry belonged to these four deceased
human cases all found dead at their owners' households.
The above translation of viral epidemiology of a four person H5N1 fatal cluster in Qinghai China. The subsequent text describes how the various isolates transmit human-to-human. Several of these cases have yield isolates of more than one version of H5N1, showing dual infections that allow for more recombination or reassortment.
As the number of targets infected with H5N1 increases, so do the number of dual infections, which leads to further destabilization of the gene pool.
The latest boxun report does not give details on the number infected or recovered, so the case fatality rate cannot be calculated. However, it would appear to be significant, as H5N1 combines more efficient transmission with a high case fatality rate.
The above data has not been confirmed, but unfortunately, most sources of H5N1 information have a track record laced with misinformation and deception.
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