WHO WARNS OF NEW MUTATED BIRD FLU STRAIN
November 1st, 2006
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE UN Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Office International des Épizooties (OIE), the world animal health organisation, have warned bird flu has mutated, with a new variant - called Fujian virus - becoming the dominant strain in Asia. Both organisations have called for constant checks of the effectiveness of vaccines, given the virus' shift in nature. "Influenza viruses in general have a high rate of change from season to season", said a joint spokesman.
ENDS
THE UN Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Office International des Épizooties (OIE), the world animal health organisation, have warned bird flu has mutated, with a new variant - called Fujian virus - becoming the dominant strain in Asia. Both organisations have called for constant checks of the effectiveness of vaccines, given the virus' shift in nature. "Influenza viruses in general have a high rate of change from season to season", said a joint spokesman.
ENDS
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