Bird Flu Mutating?

This sounds bad.

the change was found in one sample of H5N1 isolated from a Turkish child who recently died of the infection. The hemagglutinin protein, which the virus uses to attach to cells of the respiratory tract, had an alteration not usually seen in avian influenza viruses

The above comment indicates a novel polymorphisms was found in the Ha of H5N1 isolated form one of the two siblings that died at the Van hospital. It is unclear if the change is limited to the one isolate, or the one isolate is the only one sequenced thus far. Earlier reports indicated initial sequence data showed the H5N1 H and N sequences were distinct from the Turkey sequence from October, and were like the recent sequences from the Ukraine which were said to be "unique" and "dangerous to humans".

The number of cluster, the size of the clusters, and the clustering of clusters all suggested that the H5N1 in Dogubeyazit more efficient at infecting humans. The change described above could provide a mechanism for the increased efficiency.

How long before a pandemic and are we ready? Who knows and no.
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