Higher Risks of Bird Flu to Indigenous People because of Genetics

Higher Risks of Bird Flu to Indigenous People because of GeneticsSubmitted by Neeraj Shahane on Tue, 01/14/2014 - 09:37 

Indigenous people are the ones most vulnerable to the new, severe strain of avian influenza or bird flu called H7N9 because of genetics. This is what studies of indigenous populations in Alaska and Australia by researchers at University of Melbourne have discovered. They have found that genetic differences is the major reason for putting indigenous people at higher risk of the severe strain of Avian influenza which is now reported in China and Taiwan.
The H7N9 virus has not been confirmed yet to have been discovered in people or birds in the United States. As many as 31 communities from different continents were studied by the Australian researchers.

Katherine Kedzierska is an associate professor at the University of Melbourne's department of microbiology and immunology. She told that many indigenous people were killed worldwide by Spanish flu between 1918 and 1920.

It has been proved by the historical evidence that indigenous populations have been disproportionately affected more by influenza pandemics than other population groups.
Kedzierska said, "This is a new strain in humans. We have to protect everybody so that is why we tested preexisting immunity in everyone".
Kedzierska added that there is a higher risk of pneumonia and respiratory stress syndrome, and high mortality rates among indigenous people.