New viruses, old fears

Jens Richter is editor-in-chief at Since July 2020, the doctor and journalist has also been responsible as COO for business operations and the strategic development of

More posts by Jens Richter All content is checked by medical journalists.

This year two new strains of the bird flu pathogen appeared in Asia. They made the leap to humans - but how dangerous are they really?

The latest discovery by the flu researchers is called "H6N1". Of the 15 known strains of the avian flu virus, H6N1 is the most widespread in birds. So far, however, it has been considered harmless to humans. Because his surface proteins (H stands for hemagglutinin, N for neuraminidase) did not allow him to attach to human cells and smuggle his pathogenic genetic information into them.

Viruses always find new ways

Recently, however, scientists in Taiwan detected H6N1 bird flu infection in a young woman for the first time. Through mutation, it had changed its shell in such a way that it could dock onto and penetrate human cells. The researchers fear that the novel pathogen has already infected large parts of the national poultry stocks. Scientists and the World Health Organization (WHO) are putting such discoveries on high alert.

Time and again, virus strains manage to exchange or change their genetic information with one another and in this way gain access to new host organisms. And rightly so: It was not until the spring that it became known that the H7N9 strain also made the leap from animals to humans in China - hundreds have now been infected and a number of people have died. Variants of the well-known H5N1 virus also continue to circulate - a few days ago the comparatively small Asian country Cambodia reported the 13th death from this bird flu pathogen since the beginning of the year.

Infection only with close contact

However, a fairly high virus dose is necessary for infection with bird flu. In other words, direct contact with sick animals, their feathers - or with their meat. And before the bird flu virus can be passed on from person to person, its genetic make-up has to change even further.

Researchers in China believe that the H7N9 virus has probably made this leap. However, the risk of such an infection is very low. They describe a case in which a 32-year-old Chinese woman cared for her seriously ill father without protective clothing, removed his sputum and carried out oral hygiene on him. Apparently, direct infection requires very intensive contact with the sick person or their body fluids containing the virus.

New vaccine passes initial tests

So far there is no evidence of a new global bird flu epidemic like the one at the beginning of 2006 or a new super virus. Nevertheless, pharmaceutical companies are working flat out on suitable vaccines against H7N9. Pharmaceutical giant Novartis reported successful tests in the first clinical trial of a new serum in mid-November 2013: In 85 percent of the 400 test subjects, the vaccine with an active enhancer triggered a response from the immune system. It is now in a position to offer vaccination protection for the H7N9 virus - just a few months after its occurrence.

So far mainly China

Doctors in Germany should ask patients with severe, acute respiratory diseases about their travel activities in the last ten days before the onset of symptoms, writes the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) on its website. In particular, trips to China or the Arab countries are suspect. Because in addition to the bird flu virus, the new type of coronavirus is also circulating in the Middle East, which can also trigger flu-like symptoms and life-threatening complications. In the case of severe pneumonia or respiratory distress syndrome, the RKI recommends clarifying the infection in the laboratory and, if necessary, calling in a special laboratory if the test for common human flu viruses is negative.

If you travel to areas where the bird flu virus is particularly active and dangerous, you can protect yourself, according to the RKI in a leaflet for travelers: You shouldn't visit animal and poultry markets there, always heat poultry meat and eggs completely and keep your hands the same wash very thoroughly after preparing poultry meat. Because this is what all influenza A strains have in common: They are particularly sensitive to heat, water, soaps and disinfectants.

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