Washington, Jun 30: Researchers in China have discovered a new type of swine flu that is capable of triggering a pandemic, according to a study published Monday in the US science journal PNAS.
Named G4, it is genetically descended from the H1N1 strain that caused a pandemic in 2009.
It possesses "all the essential hallmarks of being highly adapted to infect humans," say the authors, scientists at Chinese universities and China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
The researchers then carried out various experiments including on ferrets, which are widely used in flu studies because they experience similar symptoms to humans -- principally fever, coughing and sneezing.
G4 was observed to be highly infectious, replicating in human cells and causing more serious symptoms in ferrets than other viruses.
Tests also showed that any immunity humans gain from exposure to seasonal flu does not provide protection from G4.
According to blood tests which showed up antibodies created by exposure to the virus, 10.4 percent of swine workers had already been infected.
The tests showed that as many as 4.4 percent of the general population also appeared to have been exposed.
The virus has therefore already passed from animals to humans but there is no evidence yet that it can be passed from human to human -- the scientists' main worry.
"It is of concern that human infection of G4 virus will further human adaptation and increase the risk of a human pandemic," the researchers wrote.
The authors called for urgent measures to monitor people working with pigs.
"The work comes as a salutary reminder that we are constantly at risk of new emergence of zoonotic pathogens and that farmed animals, with which humans have greater contact than with wildlife, may act as the source for important pandemic viruses," said James Wood, head of the department of veterinary medicine at Cambridge University.
A zoonotic infection is caused by a pathogen that has jumped from a non-human animal into a human.
Comments
This women has gone crazy.... evey time she opens her mouth she spills hatred and venom.... i laugh and feel pity on those people who elected her on what basis they have elected her i dont know.....can you point out a single area where she has done good thing for the society...... i havent seen she speak about her work about the development....... she is into communal politics only
Get "wedlock with Yeddi", 2nd time ?
Abhi counsi shaadi ?
soon she will be out of BJP....
BJP has no need to join hand with other terror-communal organisations. They are one who spits communal venom all the time
Who joined hands with PDP?? Thuppakki Shobha forgot that..!!
Wonderfull Akkama Akka, what about Baj Ranji? Terrorist RSS? What about your Yeddi Chaddi?
you pull of the gate, one way Trafic? not good nowadays every were two way trafic Akkamma, being sitting MP you have no knowledge because always behind Yeddi. so better hang yourself or get wedlock with yeddi, then only you Improve>
BJP's policy, those who pass deregatory remarks and spread communilism, they will get ministerial berth. During next reshuffle Shobakka will become a Minister of Communalism. Shobakka, don't be too smart, otherwise you will loose your looted Coffee Estate in Madikeri.
what about PDP Shobha kandodi arent they anti-nationals now ?
Yabba Khandody opened the mouth. Created only for desh drohi rss activity and communal clash.
jaa bahen shadi kar le... you will have better life than this...
Madam,
If we agree by your words, then what is your government in center is doing. Ban them. You want to play politics by keeping them active and polarise hindu votes. One think you forgot that people of coastal karnataka are highly educated. Yor can see the latest PUC results. So dont fool. It may backfire on you. Jai Hind
This woman always spits the venom on other community...
Add new comment