A possible cluster of bird-flu infections in Missouri has grown to include eight people, in what may be the first examples of person-to-person transmission in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Friday.
If confirmed, the cases in Missouri could indicate that the virus may have acquired the ability to infect people more easily.
[…]
If officials confirm H5N1 infection in the household member or any of the health care workers, “it means the virus is inching closer and closer to what would be a real pandemic virus,” Dr. Lawler said. “That is when Pandora’s box is open.”
[…]
In previous pandemics, health care workers have often been the sentinel cases, Dr. Rivers said: “Across outbreaks, health care workers are often an early sign that something has gone wrong.”
“If any of those six cases are confirmed, then that would definitely increase my level of alarm,” she added.
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Can we call it Mizzou Flu?
Lots of “ifs” but this seems potentially…bad.
From the article:
A possible cluster of bird-flu infections in Missouri has grown to include eight people, in what may be the first examples of person-to-person transmission in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Friday.
If confirmed, the cases in Missouri could indicate that the virus may have acquired the ability to infect people more easily.
[…]
If officials confirm H5N1 infection in the household member or any of the health care workers, “it means the virus is inching closer and closer to what would be a real pandemic virus,” Dr. Lawler said. “That is when Pandora’s box is open.”
[…]
In previous pandemics, health care workers have often been the sentinel cases, Dr. Rivers said: “Across outbreaks, health care workers are often an early sign that something has gone wrong.”
“If any of those six cases are confirmed, then that would definitely increase my level of alarm,” she added.
New October suprise?