# 2328
H9 viruses, while they have been known to infect humans on rare occasions, aren't viewed with quite the same dread as the H5 viruses.
Beyond the H1's, H2's, and H3's that commonly circulate in mankind, we know that the H5's, H7's, H9's, and H10's have infected humans. Other bird flu strains may also be capable of doing so, but have not been documented.
The headline in today's story calling the H9 virus `Harmless', however, is a tad optimistic.
In 2007 a child was infected with the H9N2 virus in Hong Kong, and at least one major scientist expressed concerns over the H9's pandemic potential.
This excerpt from a 2007 CIDRAP news article:
Child's H9N2 flu case probably from birds
Robert Roos
News Editor
Mar 28, 2007 (CIDRAP News) – Hong Kong officials concluded that a baby girl who was recently infected with H9N2 avian influenza—a strain believed to have pandemic potential—probably contracted it from birds, according to recent reports.
A 9-month-old girl who was hospitalized with respiratory symptoms twice in recent weeks tested positive for an H9N2 infection Mar 20. The girl had only a mild illness but was treated in isolation at Princess Margaret Hospital, the Hong Kong Department of Health reported in a Mar 22 statement. At the time of her second hospitalization she had respiratory syncytial virus, the statement said.
<snip>
Meanwhile, leading virologist Robert Webster warned this week that H9N2 is an "insidious" virus that needs close monitoring because it could trigger an outbreak in humans, according to a Mar 27 Bloomberg News report.
So while the H9 viruses are viewed as being far less of a problem than the H5 family of influenza viruses, they are not without their potential dangers.
This report (hat tip Dutchy on Flutrackers) from the Kurdish Globe.
Thursday, 25 September 2008, 04:07 EDT
Harmless bird flu found in Duhok
Two veterinarians examine a chichen affected with the H5N1 virus. Photo/Globe
By Khidhr Domle
The Kurdish Globe
After the discovery of a harmless strain of the bird flu in the province's poultry, procedures are being developed to prevent its spread.
"More than 50,000 chicks were destroyed at two poultries in Semel town because of the H9 strain of bird flu," said Luqman Tayeb Omer, general director of the Duhok veterinary office. He gave assurances that this type of bird flu is not dangerous to humans, but he also stressed that strict procedures must be taken to contain it.
The veterinary office is developing a plan with related sides, especially the health and agriculture directories in the province. Omer showed optimism and stressed that the owners of the two infected poultries have already shown cooperation in fighting the disease.
Mosul is suspected to be the source.
"According to our information, this disease is found in Al-Hamdaniya, Talkef, and Shalalat districts near Mosul. It came from there. Thus, the government should take measures to prevent chicks from being brought here from those areas," said Omer.
The hatcheries in Duhok are clean from the infection, Omer stated.
"There are two hatcheries in the province: one in Semel and the other in Miruna district. In every period of 21 days, the two hatcheries produce 24,000 to 26,000 chicks." They are now being supervised.
Regarding the danger of the H9 strain, Omer gave further assurances that "this type of disease is found in several world countries and does not affect humans if necessary procedures are taken."
Bassim Ali Askar, a student of veterinary medicine at Duhok University, said: "There must be protections and health procedures, but eating these chickens is not dangerous." He warned that this disease can spread through touch, but if the meat is boiled well it can be safely consumed.
The danger of H9 is to poultries and their production, said Askar, and the disease has to be controlled to avoid economic damages.
The dangerous bird flu, known as H5, spread throughout parts of Kurdistan Region in February 2006, killing two people. Thousands of chickens were destroyed as a result.
