2006-10-27 A new H5N1 Fujian-like strain has been reported by researchers at the University of Hong Kong. The strain has already infected humans and poultry in China, Laos, Malaysia and Thailand. The study reported by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences was co-authored by Yi Guan of the University of Hong Kong, Robert Webster of St. Jude's Children's Research and others.

The new strain appears to be resistant to current vaccines, though it does not appear to be transmitted easily from human to human. Some observers have suggested that such variations could be a reaction to the use of vaccines in the region.

Several experts, including Michael Perdue of the WHO, reminded journalists that the H5N1 Fijian-like strain demonstrates that the virus is continuing to change, or "drift." Ongoing antigenic drift sustains fears among many that a mutation could emerge that can be more easily transmitted from human to human.

A more scientific analysis of these findings is presented at Recombinomics, whose Henry Niman writes that "although the vast majority of the sequences are the Fujian strain, there is considerable heterogeneity, increasing pandemic concerns."