A group of researchers from the Shantou University Medical College were trying to map out the starting point of the bird flu (H7N9) virus outbreak. Their findings revealed ducks as potential carriers of the virus.
In their report published in the journal Nature, they identified ducks as the melting point of the virus and humans were possibly infected with H7N9 virus due to contact with chickens at live poultry markets. They have evaluated the likeness and dissimilarities among the genetic codes of influenza viruses in samples taken from each of the 1,341 ducks, chickens, geese, partridges, pigeons and quail as well as fecal and water samples from live poultry markets.
According to BBC, the researchers believe that domestic ducks most likely picked up the viruses from migrating birds which may have led to outbreaks in chickens. The exposure resulted to the rapid spread of the virus through live poultry markets thus making it the source of human infections.
A minimal number of cases have been recorded since China took control on live poultry markets.
The authors added in their report that in able to manage the bird influenza virus completely, it is obligatory to reconsider the supervision of live poultry markets in urban areas.
The research also discovered a similar bird influenza virus named H7N7 that seems to be able to infect mammals. The researchers claimed that the H7 bird influenza group may cause incredible threats further than the current outbreak.
Dr. Peter Horby of the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Vietnam expressed his support of the study in an interview with BBC, "This kind of microbial forensics is essential in helping us piece together the origin of novel avian influenza viruses such as H7N9."
"When combined with analyses of poultry production and marketing systems, it can help us identify practices that might reduce the risks of H7N9 and other novel viruses re-emerging.
