UK: Britain on Alert for Strain of Killer Flu, ‘One of the Biggest Biological Threats of Our Time’

By Jo Willey – “A NEW strain of killer flu which could spread to ­Britain within 24 hours is ‘one of the biggest biological threats of our time’, experts warned.

The alert comes after people started to fall victim to seasonal flu and the more virulent swine flu at the same time.

Such a rare incidence creates the risk of a lethal mutation, leading to an ‘ominous’ super-flu virus for which humans have almost no immunity, said medical scientists.

Dr Peter Hotez, a world-renowned infectious disease expert, warned: ‘Highly infectious strains of the virus against which humans have little defence can spread from one continent to another within 24 hours.’ He said the fact scientists had detected the rare double-flu infection highlighted the need for extreme vigilance against new killer strains around the world.

Dr Hotez, president of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, praised the scientists who had made the discovery.

But he warned: ‘We are required to remain vigilant against one of the biggest biological threats of our time.’

This comes as Britain’s winter flu season gets underway, amid fears it could be one of the worst outbreaks of the disease in years.

Last year more than 600 people died from winter flu in the UK, with hospitals so overwhelmed they were forced to cancel routine ­operations.

The severity of the outbreak in late 2010 took experts by surprise as it was far more virulent than had been predicted.

But many Britons still have little immunity to the virus strain because of low uptake of the vaccine that fights it.

The true nature of this year’s virus won’t be known until the weather gets colder and people spend more time indoors, which leads to the quick transmission of the disease.” Read more.