Word: spreading
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...Bird flu has already killed 32 of the 44 people infected in Asia this year, and the news isn't getting better. Fortunately the only way the disease seems to spread to humans is through close contact with infected birds, although rare cases of human-to-human transmission have occurred. But if bird flu mutates and gains the ability to transmit as easily as normal flu-and scientists say that is a real possibility-it could trigger a worldwide pandemic similar to that in 1918. That prospect was raised last week, when Dr. Shigeru Omi, the World Health Organization...
...That's assuming they weren't sick themselves. If the bird-flu virus spread at the rate Omi estimated, nearly a third of the world's population could become ill. That means a third of the world's police officers, government officials, soldiers, technicians-and medical workers-could be knocked out for weeks. Even the temporary loss of such a large part of the work force could lead to severe disruptions of public services-and complicate efforts to fight the pandemic. Countries and businesses need contingency plans in place now, yet in Asia only Japan has any real pandemic scheme...
With this question in mind, Edwards looked to create a solution that used physical rather than chemical means to prevent the spread of infections such as tuberculosis, the common cold, influenza and SARS...
There are several possible applications for the study, but scientists note that more study, specifically investigating the spread of particular pathogens in a larger sample population, needs to occur before they can draw any conclusions about the success of this procedure in stopping the spread of disease...
Edwards said that he plans to be involved in other studies that will investigate whether this procedure can reduce the spread of airborne pathogens among both humans and livestock...