Experimental adaptation of an influenza H5 HA confers respiratory droplet transmission to a reassortant H5 HA/H1N1 ...

Highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza A viruses occasionally infect humans, but currently do not transmit efficiently among humans. The viral haemagglutinin (HA) protein is a known host-range determinant as it mediates virus binding to host-specific cellular receptors. Here we assess the molecular changes in HA that would allow a virus possessing subtype H5 HA to be transmissible among mammals ...

U.S. Gives Green Light to Publish Controversial Bird Flu Research

FRIDAY, April 20 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. government is giving the go-ahead for publication of two controversial studies into the H5N1 avian (bird) flu virus, a top federal health official announced Friday.

Why it was right to publish research findings on bird flu

The paper reports on research by a team led by Yoshihiro Kawaoka at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States, and had raised concerns because of the sensitive nature of the results, which demonstrate how in principle the H5N1 virus responsible for bird flu could be modified in way that allowed it to be transmitted between humans through the air.

State public health reporting system receives key electronic record certification

To qualify for federal money to put toward development of electronic health records, hospitals must show that their systems can communicate with those of public health agencies. Those that are plugged into the state’s Electronic Reporting System, used to transmit information to the state about more than 80 infectious diseases, can now check that box, said Kevin Cranston, director of the ...

Controversial bird flu study is published

MADISON, Wis., May 2 (UPI) -- An avian influenza virus in the wild may be just a small step away from spreading effectively between mammals, a controversial U.S study report warns.