New swine flu in China could morph to cause human pandemic, study warns

Researchers have discovered a new type of swine flu that is capable of triggering a pandemic, according to a recently published study.

The study examines surveillance data of pigs from 2011 to 2018 in China and found that a new virus, named G4, is genetically descended from the H1N1 strain that caused a pandemic in 2009.

Researchers noted that the G4 viruses bind to human-type receptors, produce much higher progeny virus in human airway epithelial cells, and show efficient infectivity and aerosol transmission in ferrets.

Further serological surveillance among occupational exposure population showed that 10.4% (35/338) of swine workers were positive for G4 virus.

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Prevalent Eurasian avian-like H1N1 swine influenza virus with 2009 pandemic viral genes facilitating human infection