Chinese researchers discover new swine flu with’pandemic potential’

Atlanta (CNN)—A study published Monday revealed Chinese researchers have discovered a new type of swine flu that can infect humans and cause future pandemics. Threat to health.

The disease, which researchers called the G4 virus, is genetically H1N1 swine flu In 2009 G4 caused a pandemic. G4 currently represents “all the important features of a pandemic virus candidate”. Minutes of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

But Dr. Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the School of Public Health at Columbia University, warned the public, “Don’t make a fuss.”

“Our understanding of what a potential pandemic flu strain is is limited,” she posted. twitter.. “Yes, the virus meets many basic criteria, but does not necessarily cause a 2020 pandemic of the flu, and it can become the dominant strain in humans.”

Chinese researchers, based at several institutions such as Shandong Agricultural University and China National Influenza Center, discovered the G4 virus during a pig surveillance program. From 2011 to 2018, more than 30,000 nasal swab samples from pigs were collected at slaughterhouses and veterinary education hospitals in 10 provinces of China.

From these samples, researchers identified 179 swine flu viruses, but not all expressed concern. Some only appeared for one year out of seven in the program or eventually fell to non-threatening levels.

So, the bottom line is that there is limited understanding of what are potential strains of pandemic influenza. Granted, the virus meets many of the basic criteria, but is not certain to assume an influenza pandemic in 2020 or become a major human strain.

-Dr. Angela Rasmussen (@angie_rasmussen) June 29, 2020

However, the G4 virus continued to appear in pigs every year, and the number of pigs increased rapidly after 2016.

Further testing revealed that G4 can infect humans by binding to cells and receptors and rapidly replicate in airway cells. G4 also carries the H1N1 gene, but people vaccinated with the seasonal flu vaccine are not immune.

G4 seems to have already infected humans in China. In Hebei and Shandong, where the number of pigs is high, more than 10% of pig workers in pig farms and 4.4% of the general population tested positive in the 2016-2018 survey.

Karl Bergstrom, a professor of biology at the University of Washington, has no evidence that the G4 has spread from person to person.

“This is not a *new* new virus. It’s been a common virus in pigs since 2016.” He tweeted.. “There is no evidence that G4 is circulating in humans despite widespread exposure over five years. That’s a key context to keep in mind.”

The main finding is the emergence of a new genotype of H1N1 influenza known as G4, which by 2016 became the major strain of swine.

That is the first thing to notice. This is not a *new* new virus. Very popular in pigs since 2016. pic.twitter.com/cofJKm1jHe

— Carl T. Bergstrom (@CT_Bergstrom) June 29, 2020

However, researchers warned in the paper that the virus is increasing in pig populations, warning that it can pose a serious threat to human health if not carefully monitored. There is. Transmission of the virus from pigs to humans “may lead to severe infection and even death,” the study said, calling for greater control of the spread of the virus within the pig population.

Surveillance and discovery

In 2009, due to a pandemic of H1N1 swine flu, It is estimated to be 151,700 to 575,400 worldwide. Later, authorities and scientists stepped up surveillance of the swine herd, monitoring for “potential pandemic” viruses.

Swine flu It occurs in people who are in contact with infected pigs. Symptoms are similar to those of normal human flu and include fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, cough, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Since 2009, the human H1N1 virus has spread to pigs around the world, and the genes have mixed in new combinations to create new viruses such as G4.

“Pig farming is a huge industry in China, and pigs can be an important host for the emergence of new influenza viruses,” said James Wood, veterinary director of Cambridge University. He added that the study said, “Fed animals that are constantly at risk of new outbreaks of zoonotic diseases and have more human contact than wildlife could be an important source of pandemic viruses.” “In honor.”

To reduce the risk of human pandemics, Chinese farmers and authorities need to control the spread of the virus among pigs and carefully monitor those who work with animals, the team said.

New research is when the world works Covid-19 PandemicAccording to data from Johns Hopkins University, more than 13 million people are infected and more than 505,000 die today worldwide.

Wuhan Central China City is Ground Zero for Novels CoronavirusIt appeared last December and began to spread internationally in January. Due to the outbreak, China imposed a strict blockade nationwide, closing local and state boundaries and ordering residents to stay home.

The country began to resume in March after containing most of the virus-but the new outbreaks and local epidemics of the last few weeks have seen some cities return to blockade.

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