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China Worries Over Species Jumping H1N1


# 3996

 

 

A video report from CCTV (China Central Television) news tonight where concerns over species jumping to pigs, cats, and according to this report . . . dogs, have experts in China concerned over the potential for the H1N1 virus to mutate.


The newscaster is in English, although the interview with Zhong Nanshan, hero of the SARS outbreak of 2003 and a highly respected respiratory disease specialist, is in Chinese with an English translation.

 

We’ve not heard of dogs being infected by the H1N1 virus before, although there have been reports of dogs being infected by the H5N1 avian flu.   For now, until we can get some details, I’m not quite ready to embrace the canine H1N1 species jump.

 

The concern is, particularly in rural parts of china where many people live in close proximity to animals, that a flu virus could mutate, or reassort in an animal host, then spread to humans.


Of course, a flu virus can mutate or reassort in a human host, too.  Other species just add more opportunities, and perhaps a wider range of viruses for the H1N1 virus to encounter.

 

While we know mutations and reassortments happen, they obviously don’t happen easily or often.  Otherwise we’d be hip deep in new viruses all of the time.   Still, it is a legitimate concern and worthy of our attention.

 

A hat tip to Tonka on FluTrackers for posting this link.

 

 

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Experts warn of possible A/H1N1 mutation

2009-11-11 13:25 BJT

Medical experts are warning that the A/H1N1 flu has entered a period of high frequency and easy transmission. And with fresh cases of pigs infected by the virus in Hong Kong and Taiwan, experts say the possibility that the virus will mutate is growing.

 

Recent monitoring has found several cases of pigs, cats and dogs infected by the human A/H1N1 flu virus. Experts now fear that close contact between people and animals will increase the danger of mutation. China's Ministry of Health reported 30 fatal cases on the mainland as of Monday, out of nearly 60 thousand confirmed cases. It said the increase in infections will inevitably result in additional severe cases. Experts call for a timely response each time a case is confirmed, to prevent the illness from worsening.

 

Dr. Zhong Nanshan, head of Chinese Medical Association, said, "Because when the virus harms the lungs, there is a high possibility of breathing difficulty. It is different from the usual pneumonia. And there will be great difficulty treating such patients, even though they are young and healthy. The reason for this is unclear yet, but what we can do is get vaccinated, and go to the hospital as soon as possible when suffering from a continuous fever. "

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