G4 EA H1N1
G4 EA H1N1 is an influenza virus strain discovered in China,[1] with evidence of initial infection having been found in people who work in slaughterhouses in the swine industry.[1] A reassortment of an avian virus and two strains of H1N1, it is related to the virus responsible for the 2009 swine flu pandemic, and also to the strain which was the cause of the 1918 flu pandemic (inasmuch both are H1N1 flu strains). It mainly affects pigs, but cases have been identified[2] in humans.
As of June 30th, 2020, there are no confirmed cases of human-to-human transmission.[3] However, as China has the world's largest population of pigs, and pigs are frequently infected with the new strain of virus, experts are warning that it has the potential to turn into a pathogen that easily spreads between humans.[3] Researchers worldwide are therefore taking serious notice of the new G4 variant, a type of avian influenza virus, for which humans have no immunity.[3]
According to a number of experts, (including Dr. Anthony Fauci of Trump’s Covid-19 Task Force and Professor Kin Chow Chang in China) this strain has a probability of transmission between humans.[3][4] Researchers are concerned that it could mutate and then spread easily from person to person, which could lead to a global outbreak. It has "all the hallmarks" of being highly adapted to infect humans.[1]
It is in the second phase of the "WHO Pandemic Phase Descriptions" as only animal-to-human transmission has so far been confirmed.[5]. But because the virus is common on pig farms in China, experts recommend controlling its spread among pigs and monitoring humans for infection.[6]
Some researchers believe that this virus should be monitored in case it mutates into a virus that is deadly like the Spanish flu, while others believe it would end up more like Swine Flu and having a mortality rate that is less than that of Seasonal Flu [7].
Infections
35 people have been infected by G4 EA H1N1 as of June 30th 2020.[2]
| Location | Confirmed Cases | Known Deaths | Recovered |
|---|---|---|---|
 China
|
35 | 0 | 0 |
Research
A peer-reviewed paper from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) noted that "G4 EA H1N1 viruses possess all the essential hallmarks of being highly adapted to infect humans... Controlling the prevailing G4 EA H1N1 viruses in pigs and close monitoring of swine working populations should be promptly implemented."[2] The current monitoring program has taken nasal swabs of more than 30,000 swine over seven years.[3]
References
- ^ a b c "Flu virus with 'pandemic potential' found in China". www.msn.com. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ a b c Sun, Honglei; Xiao, Yihong; Liu, Jiyu; Wang, Dayan; Li, Fangtao; Wang, Chenxi; Li, Chong; Zhu, Junda; Song, Jingwei; Sun, Haoran; Jiang, Zhimin (24 June 2020). "Prevalent Eurasian avian-like H1N1 swine influenza virus with 2009 pandemic viral genes facilitating human infection". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. doi:10.1073/pnas.1921186117. ISSN 0027-8424.
- ^ a b c d e Cohen, Jon (29 June 2020). "Swine flu strain with human pandemic potential increasingly found in pigs in China". Science. AAAS. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Flu virus with 'pandemic potential' found in China". BBC News. 29 June 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ "Table 3: WHO Pandemic Phase Descriptions and Main Actions by Phase". www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Geneva: World Health Organization. 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2020 – via National Center for Biotechnology: U. S. National Library of Medicine.
- ^ Ives, Mike (30 June 2020). "Scientists Say New Strain of Swine Flu Virus Is Spreading to Humans in China". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ Jr, Berkeley Lovelace (30 June 2020). "Dr. Anthony Fauci says new virus in China has traits of 2009 swine flu and 1918 pandemic flu". CNBC. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
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