W.H.O. CONFIRMS INDONESIAN BIRD FLU VIRUS NOW MILDLY H2H

BAD NEWS:

The World Health Organization has concluded that human-to-human transmission likely occurred among seven relatives who developed bird flu in Indonesia. In a report obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press, WHO experts said the cluster's index case was probably infected by sick birds and spread the disease to six family members. One of those cases, a boy, then likely infected his father, it said. The U.N. agency stressed the virus has not mutated and that no cases were detected beyond the family.

This is bad news because this transformation of the bird flu was the PREDICTED first step before the virus mutates into a full-blown and then becomes a more easily transmitted H2H virus. That's when the global pandemic begins.

THE CLOCK IS TICKING...

And the bad news is made worse by this:

Indonesia says it lacks the resources to effectively combat the spread of bird flu and is appealing for international help. It is appealing for $50 million, spread over three years, to set up a system to combat bird flu in farmed and backyard poultry. The appeal was made during a three-day meeting of international experts in the capital, Jakarta. ...

H5N1 does have the ability to transmit from human-to-human if there is continuous, close physical contact with the infected person.

Tests indicated the virus had not mutated.

Scientists were intrigued that only blood relatives were infected - from father to son, to sister, but not from father to wife or in-laws.

Scientists are also baffled that they cannot find an animal source for this cluster of infections.

The fact that scientists are BAFFLED is NOT reassuring...

MORE HERE ABOUT CHINA, TOO.