Update | Seasonal flu and bird flu could mix and mutate, warns HKU scientist
As eight more die from seasonal influenza and man is confirmed with H7N9 bird flu, experts say mutation of different viruses is a possibility
Eight more people died from seasonal influenza yesterday as the city confirmed its third case of human bird flu, prompting experts to warn about the risk of the two viruses mixing together.
With the flu-related death toll in the city this year now standing at 255, a 61-year-old man was confirmed with H7N9 bird flu after returning from a trip to the mainland.
University of Hong Kong microbiologist Dr Ho Pak-leung warned that H7N9 bird flu could mix with seasonal influenza H3N2 - the deadly strain that has caused the current outbreak.
"It is possible that the two viruses could mix together and mutate," Ho said. "The outcome is very hard to predict. The worst outcome could lead to human-to-human transmission."
A total of 54 bird flu cases have been reported in Guangdong province, with the number of cases recorded by mainland health authorities reaching 583 on Saturday.
Ho said the bird flu epidemic on the mainland seems to be moving south through Guangdong and therefore closer to Hong Kong.