Influenza

Human Immune System Defenseless Against New Hong Kong Flu

Published in Medical Letter on the CDC and FDA, October 20th, 1997

A new influenza virus, first found in a now-deceased Hong Kong boy in May 1997 and against which the human immune system is defenseless, passed directly and most unusually from poultry to the boy.

The finding was reported by Robert G. Webster, Ph.D., chairman of the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, and other scientists in an article published in the October 9, 1997, issue of the Journal Nature.

"Typically, new influenza viruses pass through and are genetically modified in other mammals, like pigs, before reaching humans. A unique feature of this new virus of the H5 subtype found in Hong Kong, which...

Want to see the full article?

Purchase this article for only $3.00

We're a pay-per-view site for premium content. If you'd like to purchase this article, it's only $3.00.

Welcome to NewsRx!

Learn more about a six-week, no-risk free trial of Medical Letter on the CDC and FDA

Source: Medical Letter on the CDC and FDA (1997-10-20)

NewsRx is Social

Top Medical Newsletters

Awards

Best Health/Healthcare Content, 2012
Best Health/Healthcare Content, 2011
Best e-Business Site, 2010
Best e-Business Site, 2009
Best e-Business Site, 2008
Best e-Business Site, 2007
Best e-Business Site, 2006
Best Healthcare Content, 2005
Best Overall Internet Site, 2005
Best Interactive Site, 2005

Facts & Stats

NewsRx also is available at LexisNexis, Gale, ProQuest, Factiva, Dialog, Thomson Reuters, NewsEdge, and Dow Jones.

Google 2010 PageRank: #2 Among Top Health News and Media Publications
Google 2010 PageRank: #2 Among Top Science Publications in Biology/Physiology
Google 2010 PageRank: #2 Among Top News and Media for the Business of Pharmaceuticals
Amazon's Alexa 2010 PageRank: #2 News and Media Site for the Pharmaceutical Industry