Swine influenza: Why pig become a “suspect”?
Posted on October 13, 2009
Filed Under H1N1 Causes | Leave a Comment
Recently in Mexico and the United States have occurred in flu epidemic, after authorities identified by the Influenza A H1N1 influenza viruses. This strain contains a swine flu, avian flu and human influenza three kinds of influenza virus gene fragments, is a new variant of influenza virus that can infect humans who, at present there is no evidence that pigs and contacts related to influenza A H1N1 virus does not explain from pigs to humans.
Usually based on viral antigen characteristics and genetic characteristics of different influenza viruses are divided into A, B, C-III. According to the object of influenza virus infection, can be divided into a human influenza virus, swine influenza virus, equine influenza virus, and avian influenza viruses and other taxa. The strongest antigenic variation of influenza to infect humans and other animals, causing moderate or severe disease, often cause a worldwide pandemic. Influenza A virus according to the different H and N antigens, is divided into many subtypes, H can be divided into 15 subtypes (H1 ~ H15), N there are nine subtypes (N1 ~ N9). Of which only H1N1, H2N2, H3N2 mainly infects humans, many other subtypes of natural hosts are a variety of birds and animals.
Initially will be the reason people are infected with swine influenza known as influenza, because pigs can simultaneously carry bird flu, human flu and three kinds of swine influenza virus, the virus replication in pigs in the process of genetic recombination may occur the formation of new virus.
This time of the Influenza A H1N1 influenza virus was found precisely contains swine flu, avian flu and human influenza viruses of the three kinds of influenza gene fragments, is a new variation of the virus, the theory of speculation to the outbreak of the pig has become a big “suspects.” But found that the flu is only transmitted between humans and pigs have not found any evidence of the relationship, so the World Health Organization and the Chinese Government will be identified as Influenza A H1N1 influenza strain, will no longer call it was infected with swine flu.
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