H1N2
VIRUS - SCI & TECH
News: UK detects first human case of new
swine flu strain
What's
in the news?
●
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
reported the country's first human case of the H1N2 virus, also known as the
pig virus.
H1N2
Virus (Pig Virus):
●
A (H1N2)v is a subtype of the influenza A
virus.
○
Influenza A viruses circulate in seven species, including humans, birds and
pigs, but normally stay within their species.
●
It is similar to a strain of flu
circulating in pigs.
Influenza
A Virus:
●
The primary subtypes of influenza A
virus are H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2.
●
In 2009, the swine flu pandemic in humans
infected millions of people.
○
It was caused by a virus containing
genetic material from viruses circulating in pigs, birds and humans.
Concerns
of Influenza Virus:
●
The influenza virus can mutate and
generate new strains, although the symptoms caused by new strains are the same
as those caused by the original virus.
●
The influenza
A virus causes influenza (the flu), a highly contagious
respiratory infection.
●
Influenza B and in rare cases, influenza C
can also cause the flu.
●
It is spread by droplets from an
infected person's nose or throat, generally by coughing and sneezing.
●
Influenza A infections are
most common in winter.
Subtypes
of Influenza A:
●
The proteins on the surface of the
influenza A virus are called hemagglutinin
(H) and neuraminidase (N).
●
Different virus subtypes have differences
in their surface proteins.
●
Some influenza A subtypes can
infect animals, including:
○
Birds (causing
avian flu)
○
Pigs (causing
swine flu)
Further
Reference - Influenza