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Seasonal Flu Outbreaks Start in Asia: Study
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Page: << Prev | 1 | 2 | 3 According to the World Health Organization, yearly flu epidemics cause some 3 million to 5 million cases of severe illness, and 250,000 to 500,000 deaths every year.
In a separate study published in the April 17 issue of the journal Nature, Edward Holmes, a professor of biology at Pennsylvania State University, and colleagues analyzed 1,302 samples of flu collected over 12 years from around the world.
Because of the limited sample size, Holmes said he can't tell where flu viruses start. But he agrees that East and Southeast Asia is the likely source. "That's a really big finding," he said.
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Holmes's team analyzed the entire gene sequence of their flu samples. Using the entire genetic sequence, rather than just one gene such as the one for hemagglutinin, will make it possible to create even more effective vaccines, Holmes said.
"Focusing on that one gene alone, you're not getting the complete picture," Holmes said. "That may have a major bearing on why the vaccine fails sometimes."
To make a more effective vaccine, the first thing you need to do is look in the right place -- East and Southeast Asia, Holmes said. "You also have to look at the whole genome rather than just one gene alone."
More information
To learn more about the flu, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Copyright © 2008 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.
Last updated 4/16/2008
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SOURCES: April 16, 2008, teleconference with Colin Russell, Ph.D., Derek Smith, Ph.D., University of Cambridge, U.K.; April 18, 2008, Science; Edward Holmes, Ph.D., professor of biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park; April 17, 2008, Nature
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