Scientists identify new ‘reassorted influenza virus with pandemic potential

Context:

Scientists have identified a new ‘reassorted influenza virus from pigs in China that have pandemic potential. The virus has shown ‘increased human infectivity’ in swine industry workers.

What is reassortment?

• Reassortment is the process by which influenza viruses swap gene segments.
• This genetic exchange is possible due to the segmented nature of the viral genome and occurs when two different influenza viruses co-infect a cell.
• The viral diversity generated through reassortment is vast and plays an important role in the evolution of influenza viruses.
• Re-assortants between the swine EA H1N1 virus and human pandemic/09 H1N1 virus have been sporadically detected in pigs in China and other countries, some of which have caused human infections in China.

About the new flu strain

• The virus, which the researchers call G4 EA H1N1, can grow and multiply in the cells that line the human airways.
• Tests also showed that any immunity humans gain from exposure to seasonal flu does not protect G4.
• Current flu vaccines do not appear to protect against it, although they could be adapted to do so if needed.
• The new flu strain that has been identified in China is similar to the 2009 swine flu, but with some new changes.