VIENNA (dpa-AFX) - A unique lineage of swine influenza viruses are found to be a new threat to human beings with pandemic potential. Researchers have found that H1N1 swine flue viruses or SIV and Eurasian avian-like H1N1 or EAH1N1 SIVs that usually found in pigs are now virulent to attack human beings. The long term evolution have helped the strains to infect human immunity systam and that can possibly cause epidemic.
The influenza lineage H1N1 SIVs has been identified in pigs since 1918, while EAH1N1 were recorded since 1979. However, the lineage EAH1N1 SIVs is now found to transmit efficiently to humans.
Chen Hualan, director of National Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory in China told the Chinese news agency Xinhua that EAH1N1 is one of the most likely to cause next human flu pandemic. He noted that great importance should be attached to EAH1N1.
Influenza surveillance in China has isolated 228 flu strains from more than 36,000 samples and out of which 139 are found to be belonging to EAH1N1 lineage. The researchers have identified five genotypes that have potential capacity to infect humans.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
© 2015 AFX News