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The Home Page of the CIDRAP website includes links to recent articles:
13 July: Another study suggests greater H1N1 pathogenicity
Past pandemic viruses evolved stealthily
For a regular review, see CICRAP's Novel H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu) Review at:
www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/swineflu/index.html
13 July: Another study suggests greater H1N1 pathogenicity
Past pandemic viruses evolved stealthily
For a regular review, see CICRAP's Novel H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu) Review at:
www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/swineflu/index.html
Background News
The current influenza pandemic has been caused by a
hybrid H1NI virus that has recombined from viruses in
pigs, people and birds. Scientists and public health officials
had recognized this possibility, but it was somewhat
unexpected because more attention was being paid to the
possibility that the avian influenza H5N1 virus would
change its form or combine directly with a human virus
However, it has been known for some time that swine can
serve as "a mixing vessel" for avian and human viruses as
set out in a report on the website of the University of
Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research &
Policy (CIDRAP) at:
www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/biosecurity/ag-biosec/
news/dec2007swine.html
hybrid H1NI virus that has recombined from viruses in
pigs, people and birds. Scientists and public health officials
had recognized this possibility, but it was somewhat
unexpected because more attention was being paid to the
possibility that the avian influenza H5N1 virus would
change its form or combine directly with a human virus
However, it has been known for some time that swine can
serve as "a mixing vessel" for avian and human viruses as
set out in a report on the website of the University of
Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research &
Policy (CIDRAP) at:
www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/biosecurity/ag-biosec/
news/dec2007swine.html
For further background information see the December 2008 review article by
Ma et al., "The pig as a mixing vessel for influenza viruses: Human and
veterinary implications" at the bottom-right of the Journal of Molecular and
Genetic Medicine website at: www.libpubmedia.co.uk/MedJ/MedJHome.htm
Ma et al., "The pig as a mixing vessel for influenza viruses: Human and
veterinary implications" at the bottom-right of the Journal of Molecular and
Genetic Medicine website at: www.libpubmedia.co.uk/MedJ/MedJHome.htm
For further background information on the 1976 outbreak of swine fever at
Fort Dix, New Jersey, with its warning to "keep alert to the unexpected," see
"The Swine Flu Episode and the Fog of Epidemics" in the journal, Emerging
Infectious Diseases at: www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol12no01/05-1132.htm
Fort Dix, New Jersey, with its warning to "keep alert to the unexpected," see
"The Swine Flu Episode and the Fog of Epidemics" in the journal, Emerging
Infectious Diseases at: www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol12no01/05-1132.htm
To understand the conditions in which pigs are raised in factory farms from which
the swine part of the virus emerged, see Michael Greger's April 26th article
"Swine Flu and Factory Farms: Fast Track to Disaster" available at:
www.humanesociety.org/farm/news/ournews/swine_flu.html
and his April 29th e-mail "Swine Flu Is Related to Virus Born on U.S. Hog
Factories in 1998," available by e-mailing: speaking tour@gmail.com
the swine part of the virus emerged, see Michael Greger's April 26th article
"Swine Flu and Factory Farms: Fast Track to Disaster" available at:
www.humanesociety.org/farm/news/ournews/swine_flu.html
and his April 29th e-mail "Swine Flu Is Related to Virus Born on U.S. Hog
Factories in 1998," available by e-mailing: speaking tour@gmail.com