Published: November 23, 2009 12:24 pm      

Scientists announce H1N1 mutation

Just when you thought you’d heard enough about H1N1, comes the unwelcome news that the virus is changing.

Norwegian health authorities said Friday they have discovered a potentially significant mutation in the H1N1 influenza strain.

The change may allow the virus to penetrate deeper into the respiratory tracts of certain individuals causing more severe symptons and in some cases, death, an official with the World Health Organization (WHO) said recently.

H1N1 is responsible for at least 6,770 worldwide deaths since the virus emerged in April, according to the latest WHO update which showed 520 known fatalities in the past week.

News of the mutation is the latest in a seemingly relentless barrage of media coverage about the virus.

But Local emergency management officials say a worldwide flu outbreak such as the current H1N1 strain is significant even though the disease in question seems relatively mild.

Agencies such as the Cooke County Emergency Management office have taken H1N1 seriously since Day 1.

“We do a weekly conference call with the state that includes the state Division of Emergency Management, Texas Department of State Health Services, the Texas Education Agency and the Higher Education Coordinating Board,” Cooke County Emergency Management coordinator Ray Fletcher said in an October interview.

These calls let local officials and others know about any new procedures or processes related to H1N1 — a flu virus that emerged late last winter.

Fletcher also said he contacts schools, the local health officer and others associated with public health issues.

In addition, Cooke County emergency responders are prepared for the possibility of a pandemic flu outbreak.

Three years ago, the county tested its emergency preparedness with a pandemic flu exercise at the Cooke County Sheriff’s office.

More than 40 county officials, health care providers — both public and private — and representatives from agencies such as police, fire and emergency medical services got together Thursday for a tabletop exercise at Cooke County Sheriff’s Office to try to discuss and coordinate an emergency plan for the county.

Officials also wanted to find out what else, if anything should be done to make residents safer and better prepared.

A pandemic is defined as an epidemic over a large region.

Since 1918, there have been three major pandemics in the world.

In 1918, the “Spanish flu” killed more than 500,000 people in the United States and 20 million to 50 milion people worldwide, according to Tomlinson.

The world was again struck by a pandemic when the “Asian flu,” first identified in China, caused approximately 70,000 deaths in the U.S. during the 1975-58 season.

A third pandemic made its deadly rounds in 1968 and 1969. Known as the “Hong Kong flu,” this virus caused roughly 34,000 deaths in the U.S.

In 1997, scientists discovered an influenza virus had been transmitted directly from birds to people. The infections were linked to exposure to poulty markets.

Eighteen people were hospitalized with the virus. Six people eventually died of the disease.

Scientists are hopeful more vaccines can be developed to protect the public from future influenza strains.

What troubles research scientists is the tendency of viruses to change, he said.

While H1N1 does not appear to be a particularly deadly virus, Fletcher said it pays to be vigilant.

“The situation definitely bears watching,” he said.