China confirms A/H1N1 mutations

Chinese mainland had 51 deaths related to A/H1N1 last week, with nearly ten thousand patients catching flu. The Ministry of Health has also confirmed a mutation of the virus but is stressing that the number of cases with the new strain remains low. And there's no evidence that the mutation is causing more deaths.

Nearly 90 percent of flu cases on the Chinese mainland have been identified as A/H1N1.

Genetic mutation has been detected in eight people.

Officials say the first mutation was discovered several months ago.

Shu Yuelong, director of Chinese National Influenza Center,said, "The mutation is almost inevitable in flu viruses. But the percentage of A/H1N1 mutation cases is very low. And the current cases are not connected to each other which means it's not widespread and will not trigger a pandemic."

Experts say flu drugs and vaccines still work against the virus mutation.

Dr. Zhong Nanshan,director of Guangzhou Inst. of Respiratory Disease, said, "We've already had more than 20 million vaccinations and only 2,000 have had some side effects and there have only been two deaths in relation to the injection. That's acceptable."

Meanwhile, similar cases have been found in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The health department there says one human A/H1N1 case has the same mutation as the one detected in Norway.

The same mutation has been found in Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Ukraine and the United States.

The World Health Organization is not shifting its focus from battling the flu to combating virus mutations.

But if a study reveals that mutations could be a threat, the WHO will advise all governments to adjust their measures.