A team of Chinese researchers looked at influenza viruses found in pigs from 2011 to 2018. 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. We will take all necessary measures to prevent the spread and outbreak of any virus," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a daily news conference on Tuesday. The PNAS study said pigs were considered important "mixing vessels" for the generation of pandemic influenza viruses and called for "systematic surveillance" of the problem. The new virus identified in the study is a recombination of the 2009 H1N1 variant and a once prevalent strain found in pigs.

Source: Irish Independent June 30, 2020 08:37 UTC