Just 1-2 days ago, there were reports of a new SARS-like avian flu in China. Read Here

tl;dr Not so long ago, there were reports of dead pigs being thrown in to small rivers that lead to the major water source in China. Read here (It is quite disgusting). Now there is a huge outbreak of a new strain of a HIV-like Influzenza A virus that seems to be MDR (Multi-Drug Resistant) since it is a complex form of a highly adaptive and mutated strain. 18 Cases, 6 Deaths (Currently) and almost all were found to be in direct contact with infected fowl. PROBLEM IS: This virus is silent, so people who DO have it might not know they do until it strikes. It is spread by bodily fluids (sweat, saliva, etc.) There is currently no cure.

Questions:

1. Do you think the infected water supply MIGHT have played a role in the virus outbreak? (Either by contamination or priming the immune system for attack?) Despite the fact that this virus is a BIRD flu?

2. Knowing it is mostly a silent disease, do you think people who traveled to China in the past 1-2 weeks and back could have been infected? Is there a chance of it spreading to other areas such as US/Canada/Europe?

3. I bought tickets to Shanghai a month ago and it's scheduled for May 2nd. Do you think it'll be over by then? xD

I'm actually super proud of the Chinese government for actually reporting this to the WHO promptly and have full transparency (not something they did for the start of other epidemics). Being Chinese myself, I have FAMILY in Shanghai, China that I'm worried about. Really hope it doesn't turn out like SARS, but since the immune system of viruses co-evolve with our immune system, they're becoming more and more resistant to our drugs and we're quickly running out of time.

I would not be too concerned so far. Influenza kills between 5,000 and 49,000 people in the USA every year, and it is mostly in those people who are more vulnerable. The elderly, the very young, the immunocompromised or the cardiovascularly compromised are usually the ones more likely affected by these illnesses.

The number of people so far affected is very low so far, so I would not be terribly concerned so far. More information will have to be gleaned, but at the minute it looks like it's not going to be too problematic.

So far the WHO is not particularly concerned about this outbreak, and the Chinese government is forwarding any new information about it to the WHO, so they are keeping on top of it.

More viruses and bacteria are popping up all over the world because of our abuse and over-reliance on antibiotics and retroviral drugs. Because of their high reproduction rate, we are breeding these bugs. Pushy patients and irresponsible doctors can be blamed partly for this situation. There is no cure really for any flu virus, you mostly just wait until it runs it course and then carry on, and nearly all flu viruses are spread by body fluids, predominantly nasal secretions, saliva and sputum. Although there is currently no evidence that it is actually spread via human-human contact. Only avian-human is suspected at this time.

1. Avian flus are quite common and occasionally they can be transmitted to mammals. Pigs are known to be intermediary hosts that aid in the mutation of the virus from only affecting birds to being able to infect humans. It is currently unknown how the virus has spread from bird to human, but I doubt the pigs are the main cause. Most of those affected have come into direct contact with infected fowl or pigeons, so the transmission is more likely avian than porcine.

2. At this stage highly unlikely unless they've come into contact with infected birds. And so far there appears to be no human-human contact. So that risk is very low.

3. WHO is not advising anyone to stay away from the area. Just general reminders to engage in proper hand hygiene and to avoid close contact with live animals/ensure to only consume well-cooked meats and no blood-based dishes.

I would just advise you to keep watching WHO's website for updates on the situation. They will advise you about its status and what that may mean to your trip.

;]