China study warns of possible new 'pandemic virus' from pigs

By David Stanway

 

FILE PHOTO: Workers move young pigs at a farm in Guangxi, China, March 21, 2018. REUTERS/Dominique Patton/File Photo

 

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - A new flu virus found in Chinese pigs has become more infectious to humans and needs to be watched closely in case it becomes a potential "pandemic virus", a study said, although experts said there is no imminent threat.

 

A team of Chinese researchers looked at influenza viruses found in pigs from 2011 to 2018 and found a "G4" strain of H1N1 that has "all the essential hallmarks of a candidate pandemic virus", according to the paper, published by the U.S. journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

 

Pig farm workers also showed elevated levels of the virus in their blood, the authors said, adding that "close monitoring in human populations, especially the workers in the swine industry, should be urgently implemented".

 

The study highlights the risks of viruses crossing the species barrier into humans, especially in densely populated regions in China, where millions live close to farms, breeding facilities, slaughterhouses and wet markets.

 

The current coronavirus sweeping the world is believed to have originated in horseshoe bats in southwest China and could have spread to humans via a seafood market in the central city of Wuhan, where the virus was first identified.

 

The World Health Organization (WHO) will read the Chinese study carefully, spokesman Christian Lindmeier told a Geneva briefing on Tuesday, saying it was important to collaborate on findings and keep tabs on animal populations.

 

"It also highlights we cannot let our guard down on influenza and need to be vigilant and continue surveillance even in the coronavirus pandemic," he added.

 

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a daily news conference on Tuesday that China was closely following developments. "We will take all necessary measures to prevent the spread and outbreak of any virus," he said.

 

The study said pigs were considered important "mixing vessels" for the generation of pandemic influenza viruses and called for "systematic surveillance" of the problem.

 

China took action against an outbreak of avian H1N1 in 2009, restricting incoming flights from affected countries and putting tens of thousands of people into quarantine.

 

The new virus identified in the study is a recombination of the 2009 H1N1 variant and a once prevalent strain found in pigs.

 

But while it is capable of infecting humans, there is no imminent risk of a new pandemic, said Carl Bergstrom, a biologist at the University of Washington.

 

"There's no evidence that G4 is circulating in humans, despite five years of extensive exposure," he said on Twitter. "That's the key context to keep in mind."

 

More than 10.3 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 504,269 have died, according to a Reuters tally.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-06-30

 

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5 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

although experts said there is no imminent threat.

They obviously haven't decided on a date to release it to the rest of the world yet !

 

No please, not the bacon.

Time to deliver some ordinance in Beijing’s direction.

Edited June 30, 20206 yr by twocatsmac

CCP... they really want to conquer, (by all available tools) the world

1 hour ago, twocatsmac said:

No please, not the bacon.

Time to deliver some ordinance in Beijing’s direction.

Boycott Chinese products! They don't play fair globalism 

A bit of advance warning can't be accused of trying to hide now

Can't wait. oink oink????

If China warns about something, it's probably been out in the wild for months already. CCP 101.

To be a bit more serious, humans have made factory farming the main way of supplying food to the ever increasing overpopulation of the planet. All these diseases are an expected result of raising animals in an unnatural environment. Once again humanity shoots itself in the foot.

 

Be interesting to see if governments impose lockdowns every time or finally face the inevitable and go back to 1918 response.

A troll post using profane language has been removed. 

9 hours ago, riclag said:

Boycott Chinese products! They don't play fair globalism 

and replace them with what? There is hardly anything that isn't either from China or hasn't Chinese parts in it, rare earths for instance.

Why does it all start in China?

1 hour ago, soalbundy said:

Why does it all start in China?

There is a lot of very high density factory farming there, and they probably also use sh*tloads of antibiotics on those animals. Viruses love environments like that.

Edited July 1, 20206 yr by rudi49jr

1 hour ago, soalbundy said:

and replace them with what? There is hardly anything that isn't either from China or hasn't Chinese parts in it, rare earths for instance.

You can't replace everything but you can stop buying Chines phones, TVs, cars, 5G systems !!

At least they are making sure everyone knows so they can’t accuse them of doing something on the sly or give some folks an excuse to say they weren’t warned 

32 minutes ago, Henryford said:

You can't replace everything but you can stop buying Chines phones, TVs, cars, 5G systems !!

We can do that but the Chinese can also stop buying American products and so on. You think xenophobia good for the world? 

4 hours ago, soalbundy said:

Why does it all start in China?

If you read Chinese character : Chung kuok

 

4 hours ago, soalbundy said:

Why does it all start in China?

No hygiene and encroaching forests.

3 hours ago, Henryford said:

You can't replace everything but you can stop buying Chines phones, TVs, cars, 5G systems !!

As a bonus the quality will go up. 3C (Cheap Chinese <deleted>) products have driven the quality down since the 90's.

4 hours ago, soalbundy said:

Why does it all start in China?

Everything started in China didn't you know that? Your paper money, Chinese first people who invented paper money, your Seismograph(earthquake indicator), world first growth hormone pills( made in 15 century) First ship built with compartment hull reduce sinking of ships when one part of ship damage and let in water. All these were recorded by Dr Joseph Needham : he wrote "The Science and Civilization of China" 3 volumes with drawings and pictures ancient Chinese text. Not just bull <deleted>ting.

So not only virus started in China a lot of invention. Yes, google Joseph Needham and see the PDF of chinese inventions it will boggle your mind. Read how Chinese in the 15 century made growth hormone pills from men's urine.

So this virus is a gift from China to the world.

Its okay people...read the article...theres no iminent risk...a bigly American says so.

Edited July 1, 20206 yr by Roadman

China gave early pandemic warning and still get slammed by some neocon who also slammed China for late pandemic warning. What a bunch of characters. 

3 hours ago, DrTuner said:

As a bonus the quality will go up. 3C (Cheap Chinese <deleted>) products have driven the quality down since the 90's.

But what about all the C & D grade movies America has foisted on the world.

3 minutes ago, GreasyFingers said:

But what about all the C & D grade movies America has foisted on the world.

They still beat the <deleted> out of the absolutely horrifying Hollywood-China works that have come out in the last few years. Shoehorn in some Chinese actress that can barely speak English and start jumping in air and throwing swords while the yankees shoot with machine guns. That'd be F-grade.

Edited July 1, 20206 yr by DrTuner

13 minutes ago, DrTuner said:

They still beat the <deleted> out of the absolutely horrifying Hollywood-China works that have come out in the last few years. Shoehorn in some Chinese actress that can barely speak English and start jumping in air and throwing swords while the yankees shoot with machine guns. That'd be F-grade.

Yes, I agree but fortunately I do not have to, or refuse, watch them. I let the family watch the lesser US movies dubbed in Thai so I do not have to listen to the banal dialogue.

9 hours ago, Henryford said:

You can't replace everything but you can stop buying Chines phones, TVs, cars, 5G systems !!

 

How about all them "non-Chinese" brands made in China? Or based/including made-in-China parts? Kinda doubt whatever device you posted from would pass the test. Same goes for forum hardware.

1 hour ago, Morch said:

 

How about all them "non-Chinese" brands made in China? Or based/including made-in-China parts? Kinda doubt whatever device you posted from would pass the test. Same goes for forum hardware.

Yes it sucks. Before you could buy a western brand and sort of assume it would be a quality item. I bought a Kärcher K5 a few months ago and .. bloody plastic parts inside, the high pressure elbow started leaking after two weeks. Made in China. Had to order a replacement metallic part from Germany - made in Germany. Works now (but the lance, made in China, is still bloody plastic and the spray pattern is uneven).

 

There should be a percentage required in each item in US and EU which says what percentage is locally made and sourced. Like "0% made in China, virus and fault free. Support your local economy instead of commies, Thank You".

Edited July 1, 20206 yr by DrTuner

Some troll posts have been removed. 

15 hours ago, GreasyFingers said:

But what about all the C & D grade movies America has foisted on the world.

No one forced you to watch them, but due to scum greedy western factory owners exporting all the jobs to China to make even more money it's almost impossible to buy anything needed that isn't made in China now.