Young, healthy at greater possible risk from bird flu: study

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Young, healthy at greater possible risk from bird flu: study

A new study released by scientists in Hong Kong suggests young people

could be at greater risk of contracting and dying from the H5N1

strain of bird flu.

The scientists say their findings, published in the medical journal

Respiratory Research, help to explain why the H5N1 bird flu virus

kills so many healthy young adults.

They say it causes a storm of immune system chemicals that overwhelm

the patient.

The study suggests that if the strain does cause a pandemic, being

young and healthy could actually work against people who become

infected.

This may mean patients with H5N1 infections would need drugs that

depress the immune response in addition to antivirals, a different

treatment than previously thought effective.

The H5N1 flu has swept through flocks of poultry, mainly in Asia, but

so far infected only 124 people in four countries and killed 64.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200511/s1504891.htm

- Reuters