Ducks were bird flu melting pot

Ducks were the melting pot of viruses that caused the brand-new bird flu emerging in China early this year, according to Chinese researchers tracking the advancement of the virus.

Ducks were bird flu ‘melting pot’.

Ducks got viruses from migrating birds and passed them onto chickens.

The research, released in the diary Nature, showed humans were probably then infected with H7N9 due to call with chickens at live poultry markets.

There have been 133 human cases of the bird flu and 43 fatalities.

The team, including analysts at the Shantou College Medical University, were trying to trace the root of the break out.

They took samples from 1,341 chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons, partridges and quail in addition to faecal and water samples from live poultry markets.

By comparing the resemblances and differences between the hereditary codes of influenza viruses in each of the animals, scientists can exercise how the virus spread and progressed.

Their report said: “Domestic ducks seem to serve as crucial intermediate hosts by acquiring and keeping varied influenza viruses from migratory birds.

“This most likely led to break outs in chickens resulting in the fast spread of the [virus] from live poultry markets which became the source of human infections.”.

Market hazard.

There have actually been extremely couple of cases since China presented controls on live chicken markets.

The authors included: “To regulate H7N9 and associated viruses ultimately it is needed to reconsider the management of live chicken markets in urban locations.”.

The study also revealed a comparable bird flu called H7N7, which appears able to contaminate mammals. The scientists said this team of H7 bird flus could “present threats beyond the existing outbreak”.

Commenting on the research, Dr Peter Horby, from the Oxford College Clinical Study Facility in Vietnam, stated: “This kind of microbial forensics is necessary in helping us piece together the origin of novel avian influenza viruses such as H7N9.

“When integrated with analyses of poultry manufacturing and advertising and marketing systems, it can help us identify practices that might minimize the threats of H7N9 and various other novel viruses re-emerging.

“Whilst this brings us closer to understanding the path to introduction, even more investigator work is should fully expose the ecology and source of H7N9 viruses, which seem to be concentrated in live poultry markets but elusive somewhere else in the manufacturing chain.

“The discovery of a story H7N7 family tree that can infect ferrets advises us that even if H7N9 does not return, there are threats lurking amongst the terrific diversity of avian influenza viruses.”.

Ducks were bird flu melting pot