Avian Flu Research Sheds Light on Swine Flu Outbreak

A recent study by University of Maryland researchers examines the mechanisms underlying **transmission** of combined **avian-human** viruses and illustrates how virus **outbreaks** like that of the current swine flu come about. The study suggests that the ease with which a dangerous avian **influenza** virus can cause a human flu pandemic may be greater than previously thought. In a study published last week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Associate Professor Daniel Perez from the University of Maryland showed that after an avian and human-like virus combine, the virus requires relatively few **mutations** to spread rapidly between mammals by respiratory droplets. "University of Maryland":[ http://www.newsdesk.umd.edu/scitech/release.cfm?ArticleID=1878]

---