Associated Press
12-22-07
Scientists identify new pig influenza on Missouri farms
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Researchers believe they have identified a new strain of swine influenza at two Missouri pig farms last year.
Juergen Richt, a veterinary medical officer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said the new strain, H2N3, is similar to strains found in ducks.
"We don’t know how much of a threat this is to swine," he said. "That’s why we’ve published this paper to give tools to detect it in case it is a problem or in case it becomes a problem."
The new strain is a significant scientific find, even though researchers caution that it might be isolated. Richt and a team of Department of Agriculture researchers at the National Animal Disease Center in Ames discovered the strain. Scientists at Iowa State University and the University of Minnesota also contributed to the research.
There are three prime subtypes of flu viruses - H1, H2 and H3. Each of these subtypes has various strains for which immunizations can be designed.
One reason the discovery is significant is because people who work with swine are routinely vaccinated against the H1 and H3 strains, but not H2. Richt said he does not believe that H2 presents the threat of an outbreak to humans but, "we need to have all the information in place so that we can contain it."
Scientists generally believe that influenza poses a significant and regular threat to pig populations. Richt said it was important to know every strain that could be circulating, even if other strains pose more immediate or consistent threats. He also said the discovery is an important lesson for agricultural researchers.
He said the discovery emphasizes the need for careful research.
"It also tells you that you have to ... look at home for new things," Richt said. "It’s not always coming from abroad. That’s why we do this kind of work."