Israeli scientists fear spreading of more animal-to-human diseases

JERUSALEM, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Israel's health authorities have confirmed that the A/H1N1 flu played a role in the recent death of a 35-year-old resident of the Red Sea resort city of Eilat.

It is the first known death case of this influenza in the country with a population of seven million, but a high number of 1,300 A/H1N1 cases among the some 140,000 cases worldwide.

Scientists in the country say they cannot rule out more deaths in the weeks ahead. The Health Ministry has also looked into the death of a child in central Israel who showed signs of A/H1N1 flu complications, but test results later ruled the virus out as a cause.

While doctors and scientists are dealing with the A/H1N1 flu, they are painfully aware that other unknown infections could be around the corner -- and Israeli experts are warning that there is nothing to stop the transfer of more unwanted diseases from livestock to humans.

Such risks cannot be ruled out because of the density of human and animal populations and the fact that the two work so closely together, said Shimon Perk, who is with the government's veterinary institute and a lecturer at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Even AIDS spread from animals to people in some cases and adapted itself to human beings, he said, adding the A/H1N1 flu should actually now be renamed as it is a human-adapted virus.

Scientists have been surprised time and again during the last 30 years. From Legionnaires Disease and AIDS, through bird flu and the hantavirus, doctors have had to cope with many unexpected epidemics and occasional pandemics. It makes the future very hard to predict, but Perk is sure more lies ahead.

As a result of previous experiences and fears for the future, it is crucial that veterinary and public health experts closely cooperate, said Perk. The Israeli experience of avian flu was one of working together, which provided the country with better coping mechanisms.

As with other countries, the real test when it comes to the A/H1N1 flu will be in the winter. As with other forms of flu, doctors and scientists said it is that time of year when many cases are likely to be detected.