China bird-flu: First case of passing the illness human-to-human

Researchers say the first case of human-to-human transmission of a new strain of bird flu has been reported in China. The British medical journal said a 32-year old woman was infected after caring for her 60-year old father in hospital. They both later died in intensive care of multiple organ failure. Tests on the virus taken from both patients showed the strains were almost genetically identical, which supports the theory that the daughter was infected directly from her father rather than any other source. But experts have been quick to stress that it does not mean the virus has developed the ability to spread easily between humans, which - until now - there has been no evidence of happening, and the virus has only occurred after direct contact with birds. Researchers said this case between the woman and her father was the first case of a "probable transmission from human to human".