tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Concerns that a super-strain of swine flu could form are being raised by New Zealand researchers who have shown for the first time that humans can be infected with two types of flu at once.
Their finding is in an article published today in the scientific journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Scientists at Environmental Science and Research's National Influenza Centre in Wellington found at least 11 New Zealanders who caught swine flu last year were simultaneously infected with a seasonal influenza strain ? which is resistant to the anti-viral drug Tamiflu.
The discovery raises the possibility that a more virulent, drug-resistant flu strain could form in co-infected cells.
"When [co-infection] happens, influenza viruses are able to swap genes," lead author and ESR researcher Matthew Peacey said. "The worry here is this event could give rise to a more virulent influenza strain, such as a pandemic strain that is resistant to Tamiflu, and so needs to be monitored closely."
None of the 11 people with co-infections ? or two others who researchers believe also contracted both strains ? were severely ill or admitted to hospital. The co-infections were discovered almost by accident, so researchers had been unable to test whether gene-swapping had occurred, Dr Peacey said. It "more than certainly" had, however.
Gene-swapping would not necessarily result in a more harmful flu strain forming, but a risk still existed, the researchers concluded.
Co-infection in humans might not be limited to the two strains the researchers investigated. "What's more of a concern is if a much nastier virus like H5N1, avian bird flu, re-sorts with another influenza virus ... it can then transfer easily person to person."
John Fraser, head of Auckland University's School of Medical Sciences, said: "Whether resortment actually occurs during human co-infection and, if so, at what rate, remains a key question."
ESR researchers are working with a group from a Tennessee hospital who are studying the results of influenza resortment.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/4133148/Scientists-prove-humans-can-have-two-flus-at-once
Their finding is in an article published today in the scientific journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Scientists at Environmental Science and Research's National Influenza Centre in Wellington found at least 11 New Zealanders who caught swine flu last year were simultaneously infected with a seasonal influenza strain ? which is resistant to the anti-viral drug Tamiflu.
The discovery raises the possibility that a more virulent, drug-resistant flu strain could form in co-infected cells.
"When [co-infection] happens, influenza viruses are able to swap genes," lead author and ESR researcher Matthew Peacey said. "The worry here is this event could give rise to a more virulent influenza strain, such as a pandemic strain that is resistant to Tamiflu, and so needs to be monitored closely."
None of the 11 people with co-infections ? or two others who researchers believe also contracted both strains ? were severely ill or admitted to hospital. The co-infections were discovered almost by accident, so researchers had been unable to test whether gene-swapping had occurred, Dr Peacey said. It "more than certainly" had, however.
Gene-swapping would not necessarily result in a more harmful flu strain forming, but a risk still existed, the researchers concluded.
Co-infection in humans might not be limited to the two strains the researchers investigated. "What's more of a concern is if a much nastier virus like H5N1, avian bird flu, re-sorts with another influenza virus ... it can then transfer easily person to person."
John Fraser, head of Auckland University's School of Medical Sciences, said: "Whether resortment actually occurs during human co-infection and, if so, at what rate, remains a key question."
ESR researchers are working with a group from a Tennessee hospital who are studying the results of influenza resortment.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/4133148/Scientists-prove-humans-can-have-two-flus-at-once