The U.S. scientist who discovered a link between bird flu and human flu says there is a 50 per cent chance the virus can learn how to spread directly from human-to-human.
Dr. Robert Webster of St. Jude Children’s Hospital, in Memphis, Tennessee told the U.S. television network ABC Tuesday that people must face the possibility that half the population could die from bird flu.
Dr. Webster said he has stored a three-month supply of food and water at his house in case of an outbreak.
So far, humans have only caught bird flu from exposure to sick birds. But many scientists have said they fear the H5N1 virus could change into a form easily passed from person to person.
Some of those scientists, however, said they believe Dr. Webster’s estimates of potential deaths could be too high, while others say H5N1 may never become a human virus.
Bird flu has killed about 100 people since 2003, mostly in Asia.
Earlier Tuesday, Indian officials reported a new bird flu outbreak in chickens in Maharashtra state.
– VOA News
