New strain of flu in China has potential to become a pandemic, scientists warn
The new strain is descended from the type of flu — known as "swine flu" — that emerged in 2009 causing the first global flu pandemic in 40 years.
As with swine flu, the new strain has been identified as having "all the essential hallmarks of a candidate pandemic virus." "Such infectivity greatly enhances the opportunity for virus adaptation in humans and raises concerns for the possible generation of pandemic viruses," the scientists, who work at several Chinese universities and the country's Center for Disease Control and Prevention, noted."Controlling the prevailing G4 EA H1N1 viruses in pigs and close monitoring in human populations, especially the workers in swine industry, should be urgently implemented," they wrote.
While "swine flu," that first emerged in Mexico in 2009, is seen now as one of a variety of seasonal flu viruses
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Strict lockdown near Beijing as China fights new virus clusterAfter China largely brought the virus under control, hundreds have been infected in Beijing and cases have emerged in neighbouring Hebei province.
Read more »
Mainland China reports 12 new COVID-19 cases vs 17 a day earlierMainland China reported 12 new confirmed COVID-19 cases as of end of June 28, down from 17 reported a day earlier, the country's National Health Commission (NHC) said on Monday.
Read more »
China reports 12 new COVID-19 cases vs 17 a day earlierChina reported 12 new confirmed COVID-19 cases as of end of June 28, down from 17 reported a day earlier as the country's capital tries to curb a new wave of infections that emerged from a wholesale market in mid-June.
Read more »
China reports 19 new COVID-19 cases, including seven in BeijingChina on Tuesday reported 19 new coronavirus cases in the mainland for June 29, up from 12 a day earlier, the health authority said. There were no new deaths.
Read more »
New swine flu with 'pandemic potential' discovered in ChinaChinese researchers have discovered a new type of swine flu that can infect humans and has the potential to cause a future pandemic. However, there is no evidence yet that the disease, which is called the G4 virus, could spread from person to person.
Read more »
Brazil reports 30,476 new coronavirus cases, 552 new deathsBrazil recorded 30,476 new cases of the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours and 552 additional deaths, the Health Ministry said on Sunday.
Read more »