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Robert Roos, news editor for CIDRAP (Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy) News, brings us up to date on the latest findings on the H9N2 human infection out of Hong Kong.
The good news here is the virus appears not to have picked up any genetic changes from human-adapted flu viruses, which would make it more dangerous.
No dangerous changes seen in Hong Kong H9N2 virus
Robert Roos
News Editor
Jan 7, 2009 (CIDRAP News) – Hong Kong health officials reported today that the H9N2 avian influenza virus that recently infected a 2-month-old girl from mainland China has not acquired any genes from human-adapted flu viruses, implying that it is unlikely to pose a major danger to humans.
In a news release, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) in Hong Kong's Department of Health said genetic sequencing has shown that all the virus's genes are of avian origin.
"DNA sequences of the genes concerned show that they are of avian origin, and reassortment with genes of human influenza origin has not been found," an anonymous CHP spokesman said in the release.
"The epidemiological and genetic findings so far suggest that the H9N2 virus has shown no signs of increased risk for human-to-human transmission," he said.
The spokesman said the virus is very similar to an H9N2 virus isolated from a 9-month-old girl in Hong Kong in 2007. He added that the virus has been found to be sensitive to the antiviral drugs oseltamivir and amantadine.
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