Commonground
Senior Moderator
16/10/2009 22:30
Mink at least eleven farms in Holstebro area are infected with the new form of human influenza virus. The situation recalls the start of the current H1N1 pandemic in Mexico.
Danish veterinary and health authorities have issued a warning after the mink at least 11 mink farms in Holstebro area in a globally unique occurrence was infected with a new form of human influenza virus.
"It is a situation that creates some concern because we can see that the virus originates in humans. Against this background, we conclude that there is an increased risk that it also can infect back to people, "says senior scientist Poul Henrik Jorgensen, National Veterinary Institute.
The situation has therefore administrations large attention, because it has clear parallels to the current pandemic H1N1 influenza that occurred in Mexico in the spring - probably on the basis of infection with a mutated human influenza viruses from pigs to humans.
Equate
"Yes, there is a fairly clear analogy to H1N1. The only major difference is that we fortunately have not seen that the infection is gone the other way? from mink to humans, "says the leader of the influenza laboratory at Statens Serum Institut, Dr. Lars P. Nielsen, who in recent days has conducted detailed analysis of influenza virus from Danish mink.
The analysis conducted on Veteinærinstituttet and Statens Serum Institute shows that the virus has clear resemblance to a type of H3N2 flu that circulated in the Danish population of approximately four years ago.
"It recalls the virus infected people in 2005, but it is altered or mutated a little bit over it. But since in its original version has been circulating in the population for a long time, so we expect that there is some cross-immunity, which means that most will be at least partially protected against it, "says Lars P. Nielsen.
He stresses that the Serum Institute in the period ahead will pay extra attention to possibly submit samples of H3N2 virus from infected humans.
The superintendent's investigation also shows that the antiviral agent Tamiflu, also recommended preventive against H1N1 influenza, with high probability is effective against the new type of H3N2 influenza.
WHO informed
Lars P. Nielsen is Denmark's flu-contact in relation to World Health Organization. In this context, he states that the WHO has been informed of the unique Danish situation and that we then ask the Danish authorities to remain observant and karaterisere virus further.
There is seems to be talking about the first recorded case ever in the world of human influenza infection among mink.
"We do not know how the virus entered the farm, and we get it may never be solved. But it is probably a single factor, because there is a geographically limited area. It may be via food or through an individual who has his time here on the mink farms, "says Poul Henrik Jørgensen from DTU Vetrinærinstituttet.
http://mobil.berlingske.dk/article....B014C43C7EB7DEF9DCD63.uw-portal2?guid=1673161
Mink at least eleven farms in Holstebro area are infected with the new form of human influenza virus. The situation recalls the start of the current H1N1 pandemic in Mexico.
Danish veterinary and health authorities have issued a warning after the mink at least 11 mink farms in Holstebro area in a globally unique occurrence was infected with a new form of human influenza virus.
"It is a situation that creates some concern because we can see that the virus originates in humans. Against this background, we conclude that there is an increased risk that it also can infect back to people, "says senior scientist Poul Henrik Jorgensen, National Veterinary Institute.
The situation has therefore administrations large attention, because it has clear parallels to the current pandemic H1N1 influenza that occurred in Mexico in the spring - probably on the basis of infection with a mutated human influenza viruses from pigs to humans.
Equate
"Yes, there is a fairly clear analogy to H1N1. The only major difference is that we fortunately have not seen that the infection is gone the other way? from mink to humans, "says the leader of the influenza laboratory at Statens Serum Institut, Dr. Lars P. Nielsen, who in recent days has conducted detailed analysis of influenza virus from Danish mink.
The analysis conducted on Veteinærinstituttet and Statens Serum Institute shows that the virus has clear resemblance to a type of H3N2 flu that circulated in the Danish population of approximately four years ago.
"It recalls the virus infected people in 2005, but it is altered or mutated a little bit over it. But since in its original version has been circulating in the population for a long time, so we expect that there is some cross-immunity, which means that most will be at least partially protected against it, "says Lars P. Nielsen.
He stresses that the Serum Institute in the period ahead will pay extra attention to possibly submit samples of H3N2 virus from infected humans.
The superintendent's investigation also shows that the antiviral agent Tamiflu, also recommended preventive against H1N1 influenza, with high probability is effective against the new type of H3N2 influenza.
WHO informed
Lars P. Nielsen is Denmark's flu-contact in relation to World Health Organization. In this context, he states that the WHO has been informed of the unique Danish situation and that we then ask the Danish authorities to remain observant and karaterisere virus further.
There is seems to be talking about the first recorded case ever in the world of human influenza infection among mink.
"We do not know how the virus entered the farm, and we get it may never be solved. But it is probably a single factor, because there is a geographically limited area. It may be via food or through an individual who has his time here on the mink farms, "says Poul Henrik Jørgensen from DTU Vetrinærinstituttet.
http://mobil.berlingske.dk/article....B014C43C7EB7DEF9DCD63.uw-portal2?guid=1673161
