Home » Health » the new virus that scares Chinese scientists – La Nouvelle Tribune

the new virus that scares Chinese scientists – La Nouvelle Tribune

A new virus was discovered in China. It is indeed the G4, a virus that Chinese researchers say has the potential to cause a pandemic. Detected in pig farms, this virus has genetic characteristics that are similar to the H1N1 flu strain. The group of scientists who work at the Center for Disease Prevention and Control or in Chinese universities, revealed at the beginning of the week, the results of their study in an American scientific journal, called Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

179 viruses found

For nine years, a veterinary hospital as well as the slaughterhouses of ten provinces in China, served as permanent laboratories for researchers. During this period, 30,000 samples were taken from the pigs’ nostrils. A total of 179 viruses of all kinds have been found, but this is the G4 who finally won the battle, for the past four years. In addition, several employees in slaughterhouses and other employees who work in the sector have gradually been contaminated in good numbers. 10.4% of blood tests performed on people suspected of having been infected were positive.

A concern linked to human adaptation

And even if there is not yet evidence showing that the virus can be transmitted from one man to another, Chinese researchers indicate that it has all the potential. The study particularly warned that “The concern is that human infections with the G4 virus will not lead to human adaptation and increase the risk of a human pandemic”. So, the scientists suggested setting up a surveillance system for the whole population which in one way or another is in contact with pigs, as well as on the whole of Chinese territory.

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