Fears raised over the spread of a strain of bird flu that kills 38% of people it strikes: Government officials are battling to stop it killing millions and turning into the next pandemic

  • H7N9 is currently circulating poultry in China - but it has also killed hundreds
  • The UK Government is now gathering as much intel as it can on the lethal virus
  • H7N9 was first identified in humans in 2013 and has since struck 1,625 people 

Fears have been raised over the potential spread of a strain of bird flu that kills more than a third of people it strikes.

H7N9 is currently circulating poultry in China - but the virus has also killed hundreds of humans and infected scores more. 

In a desperate battle to stop it from becoming a pandemic, the UK Government is now investigating the lethal virus. 

They will track its geographical spread and changes in the genetical structure - to see if it possesses the ability to spread between humans. 

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, deputy chief medical officer for England, told the Daily Telegraph: 'It's possible that it could be the cause of the next pandemic.' 

H7N9 is currently circulating poultry in China - but the virus has also killed hundreds of humans and infected scores more

H7N9 is currently circulating poultry in China - but the virus has also killed hundreds of humans and infected scores more

He added: '[H7N9] is an example of another virus which has proven its ability to transmit from birds to humans.'

Professor Van-Tam's comments come after the World Health Organization earlier this year listed 'Disease X' among its list of lethal pathogens.

It was the first time ever 'Disease X' - representing a pathogen currently unknown to scientists - was mentioned in the WHO's annual list.

The body claimed it was one of 10 killer viruses that poses the most 'urgent' threat to humanity. Ebola and Zika were also named.

This year marks the 100 year anniversary of the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, which killed 50 million people across the world - three times more than World War 1. 

H7N9 was first identified in humans in March 2013 and has since struck 1,625 people. Two cases were imported to Canada and one to Malaysia.

At the moment, H7N9 can not spread from person to person. But scientists fear this could change at any time as the virus is constantly mutating

At the moment, H7N9 can not spread from person to person. But scientists fear this could change at any time as the virus is constantly mutating

WHAT IS H7N9? 

H7N9 was first identified in humans in March 2013 and has since struck 1,625 people. Two cases were imported to Canada and one to Malaysia.

Of those infected, it has killed 623 - a fatality rate around the 38 per cent mark.

At the moment, H7N9 can not spread from person to person. But scientists fear this could change at any time as the virus is constantly mutating. 

Scientists last year warned they had identified three mutations that, if they occurred at the same time in nature, could make it spread between people.

The virus initially causes a fever and cough. However, it can rapidly progress into pneumonia, sepsis or even multi-organ failure.

Like most strains of flu, pregnant women, older people, children and those with compromised immune systems are most at risk of death.

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Of those infected, it has killed 623 - a fatality rate around the 38 per cent mark. But Professor Van-Tam claims it would kill much less in a pandemic.

He told the Telegraph: 'Mortality is about 38 per cent of known cases, higher than any of the human pandemic viruses. 

'But it would be wrong to think we could have a pandemic virus in future that could kill 38 per cent of people. It would change.'

At the moment, H7N9 can not spread from person to person. But scientists fear this could change at any time as the virus is constantly mutating. 

Scientists last year warned they had identified three mutations that, if they occurred at the same time in nature, could make it spread between people.

Scripps Research Institute researchers published their worrying findings, derived from tests in the laboratory, in the journal PLOS Pathogens.

An outbreak of H7N9 was reported among poultry in Tennessee last March - but officials at the time warned the risk of human infection was low.  

The virus initially causes a fever and cough. However, it can rapidly progress into pneumonia, sepsis or even multi-organ failure.

Like most strains of flu, pregnant women, older people, children and those with compromised immune systems are most at risk of death.

Professor John Oxford, a virologist at Queen Mary University of London, also spoke of his concern over the potential spread of H7N9.

He pointed to H5N1 - another form of bird flu - and claimed that it 'had its chance to cause a worldwide pandemic' - but has yet to. 

Professor Oxford told the Telegraph's Anne Gulland: 'H7N9 is younger and stronger and is now waiting for its opportunity.' 

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