A Chinese and British research team has identified a new H1N1 influenza virus in pigs.
The research, published today in PNAS, says this type of virus has “all the essential hallmarks of a candidate pandemic virus”. The researchers call for
urgent containment in pigs and for close monitoring in human populations, especially swine industry workers.
The SMC asked experts to comment on this research.
Dr Jemma Geoghegan, Virologist, Senior Lecturer, University of Otago, comments:
“Pigs are important reservoir host for influenza viruses where multiple viruses might first ‘mix’ in pigs, creating new
viruses that then jump to humans. However, the news that the next viral pandemic will be caused by a new virus found in
pigs might be a little premature.
“The main finding of this paper is that a new type of H1N1 flu called G4 has emerged in pigs, which probably happened
around 2016.
“This G4 virus has only been found in pigs so far. They found that 10% of farmers already have the antibodies for this
G4 strain. But there is no evidence that G4 is circulating in humans, despite the virus seemingly being around since
2016.
“There is no evidence that G4 poses an immediate threat to humans but it is important to continue close monitoring and
surveillance.”
No conflict of interest.