10 of 11 Indonesian Pigs Test Positive For H5 Antibodies

6 Indonesian family members have now died of bird flu and the investigation into the cause of this cluster is still ongoing. While tests on local poultry appear to be negative for bird flu, it has given rise to concerns that the virus may have been transmitted to the family via pigs in the village.

Pigs can act as mixing vessels in which human and bird flu viruses can swap genes, leading to a strain that can easily infect people and pass from person to person.

"If the virus is in pigs, that would be a major concern," said Ton Schat, professor of virology and immunology at Cornell University, according to Bloomberg. Pigs are susceptible to both human and avian strains of influenza, and simultaneous infection with both types could allow viruses to trade genetic material, potentially giving rise to a hybrid that could spread among humans.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has sent in an additional team of scientists to inspect the cluster area.

"A cluster is always serious," the WHO's Thomas Grein told Bloomberg news today after visiting North Sumatra. "This one by its sheer size and that it has occurred in an area where there have been no confirmed outbreaks is of course of interest."

Human-to-human transmission has not yet been ruled out in this case.

[INS News]
[CIDRAP]

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10 of 11 Indonesian Pigs Test Positive For H5 Antibodies

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