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Biological Hazard in China on Saturday, 22 December, 2012 at 04:31 (04:31 AM) UTC.
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| Description |
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Scientists recently reported on the seroprevalence of strains of avian influenza viruses found in pigs kept in southern China. The analyzed viruses do not include the H5N1 strain. The researchers believe their study could have major public health implications in efforts to limit the potential damage caused by a pandemic in humans. Swine can be infected by both human and avian influenza viruses, and are therefore believed to be important sources of the kind of genetic reassortment that can result in a pandemic. Pigs have been infected by all of the avian influenza subtypes, H1-H13, but the natural transmission of avian influenza into pigs has only been observed in rare instances. The new study, which will be published in the February issue of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology, was conducted from 2010-2012 by Guihong Zhang and his colleagues from the South China Agricultural University College of Veterinary Medicine in Guangzhou. The researchers tested more than 1,000 pigs for four subtypes of avian influenza and two subtypes of swine influenza A. While none of the viruses were found in swine in similar testing conducted in 2001, they were found during the recent study. The recent transmission of avian influenza into swine raised alarms for Zhang and his colleagues. “We recommend strongly that the pork industry worldwide should monitor the prevalence of influenza in pigs, considering their important role in transmitting this virus to humans,” Zhang said.
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| Biohazard name: |
Multiple avian influenza strains |
| Biohazard level: |
4/4 Hazardous |
| Biohazard desc.: |
Viruses and bacteria that cause severe to fatal disease in humans, and for which vaccines or other treatments are not available, such as Bolivian and Argentine hemorrhagic fevers, H5N1(bird flu), Dengue hemorrhagic fever, Marburg virus, Ebola virus, hantaviruses, Lassa fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, and other hemorrhagic or unidentified diseases. When dealing with biological hazards at this level the use of a Hazmat suit and a self-contained oxygen supply is mandatory. The entrance and exit of a Level Four biolab will contain multiple showers, a vacuum room, an ultraviolet light room, autonomous detection system, and other safety precautions designed to destroy all traces of the biohazard. Multiple airlocks are employed and are electronically secured to prevent both doors opening at the same time. All air and water service going to and coming from a Biosafety Level 4 (P4) lab will undergo similar decontamination procedures to eliminate the possibility of an accidental release. |
| Symptoms: |
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| Status: |
confirmed |
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