Wednesday, February 10, 2010
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Expert: Swine flu virus "unstable," could combine with avian flu virus

(AlertNet) UPDATED 2009-05-12
Leading virologist Guan Yi says the H1N1 (swine) flu virus is "very unstable," which means it is capable of combining and swapping genetic material with other viruses it encounters. According to Guan, the fact that the H1N1 virus is spreading so easily from person to person means that the chances of it meeting and combining with the H5N1, or avian flu, virus are increasing. While the H1N1 flu appears to be mild so far with many infected people recovering even without treatment, the H5N1 virus has a mortality rate of between 60 to 70 percent. Experts are very concerned about the development of a hybrid which combines the killing power of the avian flu virus with the easy transmissibility of the swine flu virus.  Read full story >
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