New Delhi: Even as Bird flu has spread its wings across three continents - from Egypt, France, Italy and Germany to India - scientists are a worried lot.
They're scared Bird Flu virus H5N1 could mutate after combining with the human flu virus.
The new strain could be deadly, if it spreads rapidly among humans.
The result would be a pandemic, but experts have a gameplan ready. Contain the infection among birds, even vaccinate people against the common flu to lessen the chances of the two flu strains combining.
Says Dr Jean-Louis Excler, Senior Medical Director of International AIDS Vaccine Initiative: "For poultry, there is a vaccine manufactured in Europe that has the H5N1 strain and another one, H7, that is for poultry. There is also a H5N1 vaccine for humans that has been produced by Sanofypasteur. They are producing massive amounts of this vaccine to vaccinate people if there's a need. At the moment, there's no need to panic."
And Cipla plans to sell anti-viral drug Antiflu in India, for Rs 1,000 for 10 tablets. This could be used as a preventive, and could possibly save an infected person's life.
But anti-viral drugs wouldn't work against a mutated virus.
Scientists would be able to create a vaccine to target that new virus, only once it appears.
Check out our special coverage on Bird Flu
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