SHANGHAI - A new flu virus found in
Chinese pigs has become more infectious to humans and needs to
be watched closely in case it becomes a potential "pandemic
virus", a study said, although experts said there is no imminent
threat.
A team of Chinese researchers looked at influenza viruses
found in pigs from 2011 to 2018 and found a "G4" strain of H1N1
that has "all the essential hallmarks of a candidate pandemic
virus", according to the paper, published by the US journal,
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Pig farm workers also showed elevated levels of the virus in
their blood, the authors said, adding that "close monitoring in
human populations, especially the workers in the swine industry,
should be urgently implemented".
The study highlights the risks of viruses crossing the
species barrier into humans, especially in densely populated
regions in China, where millions live close to farms, breeding
facilities, slaughterhouses and wet markets.
The current coronavirus sweeping the world is believed to
have originated in horseshoe bats in southwest China and could
have spread to humans via a seafood market in the central city
of Wuhan, where the virus was first identified.
The World Health Organization (WHO) will read the Chinese
study carefully, spokesman Christian Lindmeier told a Geneva
briefing on Tuesday, saying it was important to collaborate on
findings and keep tabs on animal populations.
"It also highlights we cannot let our guard down on
influenza and need to be vigilant and continue surveillance even
in the coronavirus pandemic," he added.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a daily
news conference on Tuesday that China was closely following
developments. "We will take all necessary measures to prevent
the spread and outbreak of any virus," he said.
The study said pigs were considered important "mixing
vessels" for the generation of pandemic influenza viruses and
called for "systematic surveillance" of the problem.
China took action against an outbreak of avian H1N1 in 2009,
restricting incoming flights from affected countries and putting
tens of thousands of people into quarantine.
The new virus identified in the study is a recombination of
the 2009 H1N1 variant and a once prevalent strain found in pigs.
But while it is capable of infecting humans, there is no
imminent risk of a new pandemic, said Carl Bergstrom, a
biologist at the University of Washington.
"There's no evidence that G4 is circulating in humans,
despite five years of extensive exposure," he said on Twitter.
"That's the key context to keep in mind."
More than 10.3 million people have been reported to be
infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 504,269 have
died, according to a Reuters tally.