‘World closer to a pandemic’
NST, 17 Dec 2005

PHNOM PENH, Fri. --- Bird flu has yet to achieve human-to-human transmission, but subtle mutations in the virus are bringing the world closer to a pandemic, the United Nations’ coordinator on avian influenza said today.

“There are some subtle changes in the genetic makeup of H5N1 which suggest that it is making some of the mutations that would enable it to become a human-to-human transmitted virus”, aid David Nabarro.

“Virologists who study these things say do not get complacent. It is quite feasible that H5N1 could mutate. The fact that it has taken some years should not lead you to believe that we are through the worst”.

Nabarro was speaking in Phnom Penh during a one-day visit to Cambodia, which has seen at least four human bird flu deaths.

He warned that there are difficulties stockpiling enough anti-viral medicines to combat the illness.

“We are in a bit of difficulty because the production capacity, particularly of (Tamiflu), is quite restricted”, he said, adding that the UN was in regular talks with drug manufacturers to build up stocks.

The bird flu virus has killed more than 70 people through Asia since 2003 and resulted in the culling of millions of birds.

World health bodies have warned that once the virus achieves the ability to transmit from human to human, millions of people could die.

Nabarro, who will also visit Vietnam and Indonesia, commended Cambodia for its effort to combat the virus. --- AFP.