Not a "real" bird flu mutation...

Bird flu mutation "cause for concern"

Geneva (dpa) - United Nations officials said Monday the bird flu virus did mutate and was passed from human to human in Indonesia but described the mutation as "relatively insignificant," although "cause for concern."

The UN's senior co-ordinator for avian and human influenza Dr David Nabarro told journalists it was "absolutely not" the start of a potential pandemic.

He said there was human to human transmission of H5N1 going on and it was probably the third time that it had been reported.

"There was a mutation but it was not dangerous ... but this is news which is a cause of concern," he added.

United Nations had carried out a study into the spread of the virus north of Sumatra where the H5N1 strain spread within one family after contact with birds.

One of the people affected was a 10-year-old boy. Blood samples showed the virus had mutated and the mutant virus was subsequently passed to the boy's father.

"This was the kind of mutation we often see in H5N1 type viruses. It is a relatively insignificant mutation," said Nabarro.

There were various types of mutations, he added, and they had to be constantly on alert.

"The majority of them are not significant from a human health point of view. We are looking out for and trying to be prepared for a possible dangerous mutation that leads to dangerous human to human transmission. We have not had that yet," he said.

Meanwhile the UN's Economic and Social Council (Ecosoc) has urged the international community to play its part in the fight against avian flu.

At its main annual meeting it said the challenge in controlling avian flu was greatest for the poorest countries, principally in Africa, where the health infrastructure was already stretched in dealing with the impact of HIV/Aids.

Ecosoc reminded nations that they were mutually dependent on each others' economic success and it was up to everyone to do their bit to conquer avian flu.