All flu viruses are continually evolving and mutating

Research done in America by a team of scientists based at the University of Wisconsin has shown that the H5N1 bird flu has already mutated into a type which is much more easily transmitted to humans. The scientists said that the new type of the virus found in Africa and Europe can live for a longer period in the human body and this means that it is more likely to be passed from human to human. Apparently the researchers say that the new mutation means that the virus is able to live for longer in the human throat and this means that breathing and coughing could pass on the virus more easily.

The mutation shows that H5N1 bird flu virus is now becoming more similar in structure to the normal flu virus that humans get on a regular basis.  A spokesman from the World Health Organisation said that the world should be concerned about these changes and that researchers and scientists must work harder to come up with a flu vaccine. 

All flu viruses are continually evolving and mutating and that is why most scientists say that it is not an issue of if the H5N1 bird flu virus will mutate into forms dangerous to humans it is just a question of when it will happen. 

The Tamiflu medicine has been shown to be able to treat the symptoms of the H5N1 bird flu virus but does not work as a complete flu vaccine. This means that unless you get your hands on Tamiflu in the very early stages of an attack of the bird flu virus you are unlikely to survive it. Tamiflu works best when it is taken within the first 24 hours of treatment. Tamiflu is made by the Swiss drug company Roche and is protected by international patents and copyrights.