Human-to Human Bird Flu Pandemic Expected 'in Very Near Future

A weapon for combating the bird flu virus must be developed as soon as possible in order to avoid a possible pandemic, the vice-president of the Russian Academy of Sciences Rem Petrov, a specialist in the area of theoretical and applied immunology, told ITAR-TASS today.

According to the scientist, "so far there have been no cases of the virus being transmitted from person to person. However, we already know that it can be transmitted from birds to pigs."

Could Kill Tens of Millions

According to research conducted by Russian scientists, in the very near future bird flu will start to be transmitted from human to human -- and, in this case, a pandemic will occur," Petrov stressed.

He said that according to initial predictions, a bird flu pandemic may begin as early as this year or next near.

"The whole world must be on alert," the scientist said, adding that "all services must prepare for this already very real threat.

"The danger is really very great," the scientist continued. "This virus is capable of living and reproducing itself in many different forms and this is why scientists are certain that it will be aggressive."

According to his information, a pandemic could kill tens of millions of people worldwide.

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