# 4177
Over the past few months we’ve been hit by a steady stream of reports of the H1N1 `swine flu’ virus appearing in a variety of non-swine and non-human hosts.
Turkeys, cats, dogs, ferrets, even a cheetah have been infected.
All of this viral promiscuity has raised concerns that the virus could pick up mutations, or reassort with another virus, while it spreads among these various hosts.
For the past few years we’ve been watching the rare, but worrisome direct jump from bird to human with the H5N1 virus.
The Adaptation route, where the virus bounces around in an intermediary host (such as swine) – often for years – is how the novel H1N1 virus eventually picked up the mutations it would need to infect humans.
And perhaps most worrisome of all, is viral Reassortment, where two viruses can infect the same host (pigs are considered prime mixing vessels), swap genetic material, and produce a new, hybrid virus.
The FAO, OIE, WHO and other organizations and agencies are watching for signs that H1N1, or one of the avian flu viruses, has picked up changes that would increase their threat to the human population.
This report from Life Science Lab.
Preparing for animal influenza in Asia-Pacific
17 December 2009
Strategies are being discussed this week on how scientists can improve diagnosis and surveillance of animal influenza in the Asia Pacific region.
An international workshop is being held at CSIRO’s Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) in Geelong, Victoria, focusing on strengthening regional guidelines for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and pandemic H1N1 (swine influenza).
Dr Peter Daniels from the CSIRO believes the workshop will provide coordinated protocols for laboratory diagnosis as well as for surveillance of animal influenza in Southeast Asia.
This is a major step forward in efforts to improve the diagnosis and management of these emergency animal diseases in the region,” Dr Daniels said.
“Assisting neighbouring countries to better prepare for these viruses is vital, as it not only reduces the disease risks to the countries themselves but also assists the preparedness of Australian biosecurity through better threat assessment and management.”
“We are particularly concerned about the potential impact of pandemic H1N1 (2009) on livestock and a possibility of the emergence of a reassortant virus, which could infect humans in an unpredictable way,” said FAO’s Regional Manager, Dr Subhash Morzaria.
“Animal health authorities are developing surveillance strategies backed by laboratory testing capabilities so this new situation can be monitored in each country. Our objective is to have a common approach to this work throughout the Asia Pacific.”
More than 50 international influenza specialists are attending the workshop, jointly organised by CSIRO, the Food Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and Murdoch University.
