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However,
the news is bad overall. Firstly, it shows that the
virus can mutate. Secondly, because of its capacity to
mutate, vaccines may not be as efficacious as it would
have to deal with more genetic combinations. Thirdly,
it shows how much of the virus is still not
understood.
While
the virus can mutate, it does not mean that an
epidemic is imminent, as mammal-to-mammal transmission
has not been reported. Balkan nations and Germany have
reported cases of cats and dogs (feral and domestic)
being infected by birds. India had one unconfirmed
case where stray dogs suddenly died when they ate dead
poultry dumped in a garbage pit. Although the
transmission of the disease from one tiger to another
was noticed during the second outbreak in Thailand, it
is not clear if the transmission actually happened
from the tiger or environmental reasons.
In
any event, this is a disease that cannot be easily
controlled, contained, or ignored.
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