Chinese Scientists Say H7N9 Virus Mutating 8 Times Faster Than Normal

Dr He Jiankui, an associate professor at South University of Science and Technology of China, said yesterday that the authorities should be alarmed by the results of their research and step up monitoring and control efforts to prevent a possible pandemic.

With genetic code of the virus obtained from mainland authorities, the team scrutinised haemagglutinin, a protein that plays a crucial rule in the process of infection. The protein binds the virus to an animal cell, such as respiratory cells in humans, and bores a hole in the cell’s membrane to allow entry by the virus.

The researchers found dramatic mutation of haemagglutinin in one of the four flu strains released for study by the central government. Nine of the protein’s 560 amino acids had changed. In a typical flu virus, only one or two amino acids could change in such a short period of time, he said.
“It happened in just one or two weeks. The speed may not have caught up with the HIV, but it’s quite unusual for a flu.”

24 Cases, 7 Deaths

First few days is was 1 new infection a day, then is was 2 a day, then 3 now its 4. Projected infected by day 20 – 100,000. Better put on your pandemic hats, slip Stephen King’s ‘The Stand’ in your DVD player and buckle your seat belt. -Mort

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