No, <Since the question being discussed is whether there has been HtoH transmission, it does indeed make a difference.> Whether it was human to human or hen to human, it's the same result. The bug fizzled out before it got any further, because it lacked sufficient propagation methods.
Anyone who thinks H5N1 isn't transmissible human to human, go kiss a patient and lets check you in a couple of days.
All that matters is how transmissible.
Transmissible isn't like a light switch, either on or off. It's more like a dimmer switch, where you can get any level of propagation ability, from struggling to illuminate anything up to interrogation brightness.
So far, any highly transmissible versions have died with the victims or been killed by their immune systems before achieving critical mass and going noocular.
What difference does it make if one member of a family got it from the hen and one got it from the other person? All that matters is the level of transmissibility. So far, it's not much, but opportunities to get it right keep coming up for the bug. Which is why the hens, ducks and other birds are being killed by the million if thought to contain H5N1.
Mqurice |
