The 2009 H1N1 Virus Is Genetically Changed Over The Past 1,5 Years

The 2009 H1N1 Virus Is Genetically Changed Over The Past 1,5 Years.
Although the pandemic H1N1 "swine" flu that emerged terminal appear has stayed genetically unwavering in humans, researchers in Asia say the virus has undergone genetic changes in pigs during the model year and a half. The fear is that these genetic changes, or reassortments, could forth a more virulent bug. "The particular reassortment we found is not itself likely to be of major gentle health risk, but it is an indication of what may be occurring on a wider scale, undetected," said Malik Peiris, an influenza top-notch and co-author of a paper published in the June 18 issue of Science. "Other reassortments may occur, some of which predicate greater risks".

The findings underscore the importance of monitoring how the influenza virus behaves in pigs, said Peiris, who is chairman and professor of microbiology at the University of Hong Kong and methodical director of the university's Pasteur Research Center. "Obviously, there's a lot of developing going on and whenever you see some unstable situation, there's the potential for something new to evolve that could be dangerous," added Dr John Treanor, professor of medicine and of microbiology and immunology at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York.