G4 virus

Shashank Raj Gupta
(international)G4 virus

Question: Consider the following statements:
(1) Chinese researchers have discovered a new type of swine flu virus ‘G4’ that can infect humans and has the potential to cause a future pandemic.
(2) Swine flu (H1N1) virus was first identified in Mexico in April 2009.
Of the above correct statement/s is/are:
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1&2
(d) None of the above
Answer: (c)
Related facts:

  • Chinese researchers have discovered a new type of swine flu virus ‘G4’ that can infect humans and has the potential to cause a future pandemic
  • The virus strain has been named G4 EA H1N1.
  • The new strain of swine flu virus is a descendant of H1N1 virus, with properties similar to the European avian-like (EA) H1N1 virus which had led to a terrifying pandemic in Mexico in 2009.
  • Chinese researchers based at several institutions, including Shandong Agricultural University and the Chinese National Influenza Center, discovered the G4 virus during a pig surveillance program.
  • Scientists identified the virus through surveillance of influenza viruses in pigs that they carried out from 2011 to 2018 in ten provinces of China.
  • During this time, more than 29,000 nasal swabs were collected from slaughtered pigs and over 1,000 swabs or lung tissues were collected from farmed pigs that had signs of respiratory disease.
  • Out of these samples, the researchers isolated 179 swine flu viruses, the majority of which belonged to the newly identified G4 strain.
  • They also found that the G4 strain has the capability of binding to human-type receptors (like, the SARS-CoV-2 virus binds to ACE2 receptors in humans), was able to copy itself in human airway epithelial cells, and it showed effective infectivity and aerosol transmission in ferrets.
  • But so far there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission of the virus.

By-Amar Mani Upadhyay

Links:
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-what-is-g4-flu-virus-with-pandemic-potential-found-by-chinese-researchers-6483634/
https://news.abplive.com/health/swine-flu-descendant-g4-virus-with-pandemic-potential-found-in-china-know-all-about-the-new-disease-1274398