Ducks were bird flu 'melting pot'
Ducks were the melting pot of viruses that led to the new bird flu emerging in China early this year, according to Chinese scientists tracking the evolution of the virus.
Ducks picked up viruses from migrating birds and passed them onto chickens.
The study, published in the journal Nature, showed humans were probably then infected with H7N9 due to contact with chickens at live poultry markets.
There have been 133 human cases of the bird flu and 43 deaths.
The team, including researchers at the Shantou University Medical College, were trying to trace the root of the outbreak.
They took samples from 1,341 chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons, partridges and quail as well as faecal and water samples from live poultry markets.
By comparing the similarities and differences between the genetic codes of influenza viruses in each of the animals, scientists can work out how the virus evolved and spread.
Their report said: "Domestic ducks seem to act as key intermediate hosts by acquiring and maintaining diverse influenza viruses from migratory birds.
"This probably led to outbreaks in chickens resulting in the rapid spread of the [virus] through live poultry markets which became the source of human infections."
(continued, see where that shag anything that moves, or doesn't, mentality gets you?)
