The risk of a mutation of avian flu was increasing, with the disease was showing signs of resistance to the most effective anti-viral drugs available, Dr Mike Perdue of influenza programme of the World Health Organization (WHO) said Thursday, according to DPA. Perdue also warned there was a greater chance of mutation in winter, adding that "the H5N1 strain of the virus does not sleep and always constitutes a danger." The chance of a genetic adaptation allowing the virus to pass from human to human, opening up the possibility of a worldwide pandemic, was stronger at a time when many people were infected by normal flu. The latest WHO figures revealed there had been 251 cases of human avian flu since 2003 leading to 148 deaths. The numbers were growing year on year. Ten countries had been affected so far. The worst hit was Indonesia (52 deaths), followed by Vietnam (42 deaths), Thailand (17) China (14), Cambodia (6), Egypt (6), Azerbaijan (5), Turkey (4), Iraq (2), and Djibouti (0).
