New theory blames ducks for bird flu spread: WHO
Domesticated ducks may be the main transmitters of the H5N1 bird flu virus that killed 32 people in two major outbreaks in Asia earlier this year, a senior World Health Organisation official said yesterday.
Studies suggest the most devastating outbreaks occurred where duck populations were highest, said WHO director for the Western Pacific Shigeru Omi.
"Our judgement is that ducks are now playing a major role in terms of transmitting the disease," Omi said during a visit to Hong Kong.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. "When chickens are infected, they get the symptoms and then they die, but the ducks don't die and they don't develop the symptoms."
He said the WHO was working on the theory after discovering that the peak seasonal prevalence of flu in ducks, during the winter months, coincided with the peak period of human infections.
Comments