WHO report startles some

WHO issues startling bird flu report



The World Health Organization has just completed a report that raises startling concerns about the so-called Bird Flu.

While the virus has killed millions of birds, mostly in Asia, overseas there has been a minute number of human infections. To date, according to the WHO, 256 people have been infected and 152 of those have died. That's nearly a 60 percent death rate.

And in the new report, the WHO says if the virus becomes easily transmissible between people as a result of mutation,".. then the present high lethality could be maintained during a pandemic."

The report also raises concern about vaccine. It says, "Efforts to develop a vaccine that confers adequate protection have been greatly complicated by the emergence of ... diverse viruses..."

The report adds ".. Decisions about which vaccines to stockpile may be premature."

Infectious Disease expert Dr. Michael Osterholm says, "We have no evidence that these vaccines will protect, and on top of it, we just don't have the production capability." So even if an effective vaccine is created, it most likely can't be manufactured fast enough to be distributed to all those who would need it.

To date, the virus in question has not been found in North America.


By Greg Vandegrift, KARE 11 News