November 21, 2006

New H3N1 virus detected in pigs in South Korea

A H3N1 swine influenza virus in domestic pigs in South Korea has been identified by a group of international researchers.

A highly infectious respiratory pathogen, the H3N1 influenza A virus is a new genetic reassortment of

influenza viruses first identified in pigs in the US in 2004.

The findings were published in the November 2006 issue of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology.

The virus can be found in birds and mammals, but is not generally transmissible between birds and humans. However, as pigs are believed to be susceptible to viruses from both origins, it has resulted in them being "mixing vessels" for the virus.

Researchers had isolated H3N1 influenza A viruses in pigs with respiratory diseases at two farms in South Korea.

Further tests confirmed the H3N1 viruses were reassortments of an H3 human-like virus and other genes from swine influenza viruses and that pig-to-pig and farm-to-farm transmission had occurred. Tests also indicated the virus is  transmissible to other mammals.

The study called for greater surveillance for atypical influenza viruses in pigs as part of overall pandemic preparedness efforts.