Bird Flu Jumping from Birds to Humans in China

Bird flu transmitted between people in China

Infection control experts have long feared that bird flu virus might mutate so that it is able to easily passed from person to person. Stock Photo.

Photo: Pichi CHUANG / Reuters

Chinese scientists have reported the first case of direct human to human transmission of bird flu virus which has claimed over 40 lives since March.

 The development is worrying and must be followed carefully, the researchers wrote in an article in The British Medical Journal website.
The Chinese stressed, however, that the virus H7N9, which is assumed to be transmitted from birds to humans, is still not able to spread among people.
 
- People must not panic, says epidemiologist Chang-jun Bao Jiangsus disease control center. The Chinese province has been hit hard by the H7N9 outbreak in years.