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Shalala gets a read on new flu
December 16, 1997
Shalala
Web posted at: 6:05 p.m. EST (2305 GMT)WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala visited Hong Kong last week to learn more about a new strain of the flu.
CNN has learned that during her two-day stopover, Shalala was briefed by doctors sent to China by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control to study the virus. The early indications are that the virus appears to infect chickens first, then migrates to humans.
So far, Hong Kong health officials say they have identified only nine cases of the flu and are not sure yet whether it can be transmitted from one person to another.
According to a department spokesman, Shalala believes there is no reason for Americans to be concerned, and there is no threat from the mystery influenza this year.
The spokesman said scientists don't know yet if it will be necessary to create a new vaccine to counteract the new strain for next year's flu season.
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