H5 and H9 not the only bugs that could bring the next pandemic, health body warns
The World Health Organisation yesterday warned countries to be alert to the possibility that many different viruses could spark the next flu pandemic, after a baby girl in Hong Kong was confirmed to be suffering from H9N2 bird flu.
Keiji Fukuda, the co-ordinator of the world body's global influenza programme, said cases of H9N2 human infections have been reported only in Hong Kong, though the virus has been known to be circulating in poultry in Asia since the 1990s.
'Detection of the current H9 case serves to point out that surveillance for avian influenza has been excellent in Hong Kong for many years, and serves as a reminder that there are many potential viruses that could result in the next influenza pandemic,' he said from the global body's Geneva headquarters last night.
Efforts to develop a prototype H9 vaccine were continuing, he said, as the H9N2 virus was considered a potential 'candidate' to spark the next flu pandemic.
Gregory Hartl, the organisation's project leader on pandemic response and alert, agreed the 'culprit', if a pandemic occurred, may not necessarily be the deadly H5N1 strain.
He urged countries to remain vigilant. 'All countries [should be] ready to detect and respond to any type of unusual disease event, whether it be H5N1, H9N2 or another disease altogether. Pandemic preparedness and response come as a package.'