News Reports for September 12, 2012

Two Mutations Can Transform A Swine Flu Virus

http://www.npr.org/blogs/healt...

(Snip) The [authors of a report published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences] detail how a swine flu virus currently circulating in Korea - without apparently making the pigs sick - quickly changed into a deadly flu virus when it was put into ferrets. (snip) Once in ferrets, the virus acquired two new mutations that somehow conferred unusual virulence. Infected ferrets died within 10 days and transmitted the virus easily to other animals in respiratory droplets. The mutations occurred in all three ferrets infected with the Korean pig virus.

"It turned into a really nasty virus," study author Rob Webster told Shots. (snip)

"We scanned the database to look whether or not this particular mutation is showing up in swine influenza viruses or viruses transmitted from pigs to people and we don't find that mutation in nature," chief flu researcher Nancy Cox of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention told Shots. (snip)

Most of the victims [of the H3N2v and H1N2v outbreaks] have been children. "Let's suppose that one of the triple reassortants circulating in the US picks up these two mutations they've picked up in Korea," Webster says. "My God, those kids would be dead!" (continued)

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by: AlohaOR @ Wed Sep 12, 2012 at 04:54:27 AM UTC

Swine flu strain discovery prompts calls for better pig surveillance.

Scientists are calling for better surveillance of pig herds, after a potentially dangerous type of swine flu was found in Korean pigs.

(Snip)

While there's no evidence yet that the virus can be passed onto to humans, scientists say their findings are a concern.

Correspondent: Miriam Hall

Speaker: Professor Peter Doherty, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne; Ian Barr, World Health Organization influenza specialist;

MIRIAM HALL: It's a finding that's raising concern among medical researchers.

Professor Peter Doherty from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Melbourne has been reviewing the results.

PETER DOHERTY: Transmission between ferrets is pretty much saying that it can probably transmit between humans and so the fact that it transmits to ferrets and can kill them is clearly a matter of concern. We've never seen an H1N2 virus, which is the type they've found, cause a human pandemic or epidemic but there's always a first time.

MIRIAM HALL: Researchers took samples of viruses from pigs at Korean abattoirs in 2007 and 2009. They used those viruses to infect a number of ferrets in a laboratory. And they then found that one of the viruses not only spread between the ferrets, but also killed them within 10 days.

World Health Organization influenza specialist Ian Barr says it's a significant finding.

IAN BARR: Any of these viruses which cause major problems in experimental animals are things which need to be watched carefully.

MIRIAM HALL: For Ian Barr, it's evidence that pigs can carry viruses that are potentially dangerous to humans.

IAN BARR: Clearly this study shows that there's other viruses out there which may not be as mild as the 2009 pandemic virus and need to be monitored and preferably stamped out if we can detect them in the pig populations.

MIRIAM HALL: Ian Barr is urging caution, saying there's no evidence that this particular strain of flu can be passed onto humans. But he still wants there to be more awareness of swine influenza. Continued: http://www.radioaustralia.net....

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. --Unknown

     

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by: Carol@SC @ Wed Sep 12, 2012 at 05:52:33 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

India: Swine flu cases in city touch 100 mark (Uttar Pradesh)

LUCKNOW: The total number of swine flu cases in the city inched close to 100 on Tuesday. Microbiology department at Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) confirmed that six persons tested positive for H1N1 infection. The number would surely swell further considering that three dozen samples were pending for testing with the authorities.

(Snip) "So far, the city has reported 97 positive cases of H1N1 infection. More than 95 per cent patients of swine flu are either residents of SGPGIMS or are living in areas adjoining to the apex institution." Continued: http://timesofindia.indiatimes...

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. --Unknown

     

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by: Carol@SC @ Wed Sep 12, 2012 at 05:36:15 AM UTC

US: State Fair Preparing for New Strain of Swine Flu (South Carolina)

(Snip) The State Fair grounds may be quiet in September, but come next month the grounds will see hundreds of thousands of visitors.  All those people mean a lot of preparations and this year that includes particular attention to the pigs.

The new version of the Swine Flu, known as H3N2, has popped up at state fairs across the country prompting health officials to warn fair goers about swine.

"We feel like you have to be cautious," said Goodman. "We have not had any outbreaks in the southeastern part of the country and we check regularly with the state veterinarian's department."

Although no cases have been reported in South Carolina, both health and fair officials are asking the public to take precautions. Continued: http://www.wltx.com/news/natio...

(Note: I live in South Carolina and I'm hoping no H3N2v or H1N2v cases pop up when the state fair is held here next month in Columbia.)

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. --Unknown

     

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by: Carol@SC @ Wed Sep 12, 2012 at 06:15:09 AM UTC

CDC Cites 10 Examples of H3N2v Human Transmission

Recombinomics Commentary

The CDC (Lyn Finelli) gave a 30 minute presentation / Q&A entitled "Emergence of Animal-Origin H3N2 Influenza" at the American Society for Microbiogy ICAAC meeting in San Francisco (Snip).  The latest total on H3N2v cases was 302, including 10 examples of human to human (H2H) transmission.

Prior H3N2 updates had acknowledged 3 examples of H2H, raising concerns that the number of examples of H2H transmission was significantly higher than the 10 examples because of the size of the outbreaks.  At the Gallia Junior County Fair, there were hundreds of cases of ILI (influenza - like illness).  200 of the cases were tested with a rapid test, and 69 were influenza A positive.  A subset was PCR tested and 12 H3N2v cases were confirmed.

(Snip)

However, there was concern for more cases in schools and day care centers, since the 2011 human clusters were in the winter (both clusters started in November), when transmission conditions are more ideal for influenza transmission. http://www.recombinomics.com/N...

Video: "Emergence of Animal-Origin H3N2 Influenza" by Lyn Finelli of the CDC http://www.microbeworld.org/in...

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. --Unknown

     

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by: Carol@SC @ Wed Sep 12, 2012 at 07:15:44 AM UTC

Please post new news stories to...

News Reports for September 13, 2012

Thank you!

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by: AlohaOR @ Thu Sep 13, 2012 at 04:21:45 AM UTC