China study warns of possible new 'pandemic virus' from pigs

Pigs are seen in a shed of a pig farm with 800 pigs in Harheim near Frankfurt, Germany. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

Pigs are seen in a shed of a pig farm with 800 pigs in Harheim near Frankfurt, Germany. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

Published Jun 30, 2020

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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.

Reuters

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