ROTTERDAM / ATLANTA – The Mexican flu is more dangerous than was thought until recently. The Mexican Flu Virus penetrates into the lower airways. This is the risk of pneumonia a lot bigger than the normal winter flu, which usually nests in the upper airways. Also the virus infiltrates the gastrointestinal tract.
This according to research by the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta and the results published Thursday in the scientific journal Science.
Virologists from both research compared the progress of the Mexican flu with the regular flu. This was in the CDC laboratory six p.m.-infected ferrets and the Erasmus MC in six ferrets. Flu develops in the same way as predatory animals in humans, why they laboratories and pilot model.
From both the American and Dutch research shows that the Mexican flu leads to more severe illness than the usual winter flu. Investigator and virologist Professor Ron Fouchier of Erasmus MC: “The public often thinks it not too bad. But our research shows that the Mexican flu is really dangerous. “
The Rotterdam discovered that the Mexican flu virus penetrates deep into the bronchi, the lower respiratory tract. This increases the risk of pneumonia. In the winter flu virus is the virus usually does not go over the nose and pharynx. The U.S. researchers found that the gastro-intestinal tract was infected, which led to stomach flu-like symptoms. This is rarely the case with ordinary flu. Responsible for diseases including in Mexico turned out that about 40 percent of the patients also suffer from vomiting and diarrhea.
The Rotterdam argued further that the Mexican virus is spreading as fast as the winter flu virus, including through such ventilation systems. “This finding is consistent with results that were presented at a conference in the U.S. instead Minnesota, one week ago.”
Fouchier thinks that the severity of the flu so far has been dire since the summer. Only this winter, according to him clearly what the virus really has in store. “We would do well to prepare ourselves for a strong flu.” In the media, according Fouchier often suggested that things will not run so fast, but the latest research methods in a different direction.
Tags: Flu, Mexican Flu, Mexican Flu Virus, virus
