FOR KIDS: Killer-flu update

Infection that recently developed in China shows signs of being easy to spread and hard to kill

Infection that recently developed in China shows signs of being easy to spread and hard to kill

By Janet Raloff

Web edition: May 29, 2013

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Mapping flu's emergence

Map showing provinces in eastern China where early cases of the new bird flu emerged in February through April 15, 2013.

Credit: World Health Organization/ Western Pacific Regional Office

This spring, doctors in China began encountering patients with an unusually severe form of flu. So far, it has sickened at least 131 people, killing 36. That kill rate ? more than 27 out of every 100 people known to be infected ? is very high. New studies now offer more reason for concern.

The microbes appear able to spread through the air, something not all types of bird-flu germs can easily?do. Even more worrying, the virus appears to be evolving an ability to ignore the drugs meant to kill it. These findings point to a virus with the potential to spread quickly, easily and globally.

Visit the new Science News for Kids website and read the full story: Killer-flu update.

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Citations

T. Saey. Tests show that deadly flu could spread among people. Science News Online. May 23, 2013. [Go to]

Y. Hu, et. al. Association between adverse clinical outcome in human disease caused by novel influenza A H7N9 virus and sustained viral shedding and emergence of antiviral resistance. The Lancet published online May 28, 2013. doi: 10.1016/SO140-6736

Source: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/350697/title/FOR_KIDS_Killer-flu_update

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