A new strain of influenza virus called G4 virus which allegedly has the potential to cause a pandemic has been discovered by experts in China. Based on the study released by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, the said virus belongs to the same family with that of H1N1 that caused a pandemic last 2009.
The virus was discovered among swines in China and affected 10 percent of the swine workers in Heibei and Shandong. Frequent sneezing, coughing, and fever are considered as usual symptoms of the virus. The G4 virus is claimed to be “highly infectious” and can easily multiply in human cells.
“G4 EA reassortant viruses replicate efficiently in human airway epithelial cells, similarly to replication of pdm/09 H1N1 virus,” the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America explained.
“These results demonstrate that the newly prevalent G4 reassortant EA H1N1 viruses in pigs are more infectious to humans than their predecessors of G1 viruses… Preexisting immunity derived from the present human seasonal influenza vaccines cannot provide protection against G4 viruses,” it added.
Meanwhile, the Samahang Industriya at Agrikultura expressed concern on the report since the problem on ASF is not yet over. The groups said the local industry can supply the meat demand of the country.
“Dapat ‘yong pagpasok ng pork and chicken huwag basta-basta magpapasok. ‘Yung pwedeng walang import. Hintayin muna ‘yong first border (The entry of pork chicken must not be lenient. If it’s possible, there should be no importation, wait for the first boarder),” SINAG Chair Rosendo said.
The Bureau of Animal Industry is now preparing to implement the first border policy. The country has also imposed a temporary ban on pork and poultry products from China and countries with incidents of ASF and bird flu. – Report from Cleizl Pardilla
