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Human-To-Bird H1N1 Transmission A Reality
From Julio Garcia Moreno MD, MSc
 8-29-9
 
"I think that now we are facing a new scenario where the chances of the  influenza A(H1N1)2009 virus passing to birds is not just a possibility but  a reality."
 
Transmission of A(H1N1)2009 virus from human to birds
 
I am sending you a second report about genetic study of 1st transmission of  A(H1N1)2009 virus from human to birds.
 
On 23 Aug [2009] the Institute of Public Health (Chile) communicated to  ProMED-mail the 1st isolation of an [influenza] A(H1N1) swine virus in  turkeys.
 
The finding was done by the Chilean farming agency SAG and the confirmation  and genetic studies are being done in our Institution (national reference  laboratory).
 
On that occasion we communicated the genetic and antigenic characteristics  of the hemmaglutinin (HA) gene of the turkey's virus in this outbreak (the  virus showed 99.5 to 98.9 per cent similarity to the  [Influenza]A/California/4/2009 reference strain and 100 per cent similarity  with the strains circulating in Chile).
 
Now, we are reporting the neuraminidase genetic sequencing studies. In this  gene the turkey strain was shown to be 99.7 per cent similar to the  pandemic strains circulating in Chile in human cases, and to have 99.5 per  cent similarity to the reference strain A/California/4/2009, 80.5 per cent  to 86.5 per cent similarity to avian influenza A virus strains (H1N1, H5N1,  H6N1, H7N1) and 83.6 to 92 per cent similarity to swine influenza virus  strains (H1N1) isolated in different countries during years 2000 to 2009.  At the end of this week we will report the results of complete genome.
 
Julio Garcia Moreno MD, MSc Head, Biomedical Department Instituto de Salud FAblica de Chile jgarcia@ispch.cl>
 
 
Date: 27 Aug 2009 From: Julio Garcia Moreno MD, MSc
 
Transmission of A(H1N1)2009 virus from human to birds
 
Final report about genetic study of 1st transmission of A(H1N1)2009 virus  from human to birds.
 
On 23 Aug 2009 the Institute of Public Health (Chile) communicated to  ProMED-mail the 1st isolation of a A(H1N1) swine virus in turkeys. The  finding was done by the Chilean farming agency SAG and the confirmation and  genetic studies are being done in our Institution (national reference  laboratory). On that occasion we communicated the genetic and antigenic  characteristics of the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase gene of the turkey's  virus in this outbreak. Now, we are reporting the total genome genetic  sequencing studies (nucleotides):
 
1. The gene that encodes for hemagglutinin (HA) was shown to be 99.5 per  cent similar to the A/California/4/2009 reference strain and 100 per cent  similar to the strains circulating in Chile in patients.
 
 
2. The gene that encodes for neuraminidase (NA) was shown to be 99.5 per  cent similar to the A/California/4/2009 reference strain and 99.7 per cent  similar to the strains circulating in Chile in patients.
 
 
3. The gene that encodes for a subunit of polymerase (PB1) was shown to be  99.8 per cent similar to the A/California/4/2009 reference strain and 99.9  per cent similar to the strains circulating in Chile in patients.
 
 
4. The gene that encodes for a subunit of polymerase (PB2) was shown to be  99.8 per cent similar to the A/California/4/2009 reference strain and 99.8  per cent similar to the strains circulating in Chile in patients.
 
 
5. The gene that encodes for a subunit of polymerase (PA) was shown to be  99.7 per cent similar to the A/California/4/2009 reference strain and 99.9  per cent similar to the strains circulating in Chile in patients.
 
 
6. The gene that encodes for the nucleoprotein (NP) was shown to be 99.5  per cent similar to the A/California/4/2009 reference strain and 99.7 per  cent similar to the strains circulating in Chile in patients.
 
 
7. The gene that encodes for the non-structural proteins ((NS) was shown to  be 99.8 per cent similar to the A/California/4/2009 reference strain and  99.8 per cent similar to the strains circulating in Chile in patients.
 
 
8. The gene that encodes for the matrix proteins (M) was shown to be 99.8  per cent similar to the A/California/4/2009 reference strain and 99.7 per  cent similar to the strains circulating in Chile in patients.
 
The conclusion of the genetic sequencing studies is that the influenza  virus (H1N1) isolated from turkey corresponds to a variant of the influenza  A(H1N1)2009 virus that has been circulating in Chilean people.
 
I think that now we are facing a new scenario where the chances of the  influenza A(H1N1)2009 virus passing to birds is not just a possibility but  a reality.
 
This forces us to think some new strategies in order to diminish the risk  of co-infection in birds of avian influenza virus and A(H1N1)2009 human  virus. The replication of both viruses in the same host could mix existing  genetic information (reassortment) and produce a new virus that has most of  the genes of the human virus, but a hemagglutinin and/or neuraminidase from  an avian influenza A virus (drift). This new virus might be able to infect  humans and spread from person to person and his surface proteins never been  in contact with human immunology system.
 
Some strategies to evaluate are:
 
1. Review the established priorities for use the new A(H1N1)2009 vaccine.  In my opinion under this new scenario would be a world priority to  vaccinate in 1st term the whole population in countries in which actually  there is presence of the avian influenza virus (some African and south  Asian countries). The vaccine is the best tool to cut the transmission of  the virus among humans and therefore the chance of infecting birds.
 
2. The laboratory surveillance should also be intensified in these  countries: for avian influenza virus in birds and farm workers and for  A(H1N1)2009 virus in general population and farm workers. This strategy  forces us to train the local laboratories and give them the equipment  required for a local laboratory surveillance and confirmation.
 
3. Educational campaigns should be made in these countries for all public,  especially to bird's farm workers and small home business. Attention must  be provided to universal precaution to avoid infections from birds or to  infect birds during work. The workers should be trained in keeping alert  about bird's behavior changes. We must keep in mind that the human strain  A(H1N1)2009 seem to have mild symptoms in birds (at least in turkeys).  These decisions imply to postpone actual interest of countries to use the  available vaccine to redirect the benefit to some low income countries. So  we are talking about vaccine that should be provided free of charge for the  majority of this countries. Of course I think that it represents an  inversion for the rest of the world. (keep in mind that the lethality of  avian influenza is close to 50 per cent) and a matter of justice for people  in major risk.
 
--  Julio Garcia Moreno MD, MSc Head, Biomedical Department Instituto de Salud FAblica de Chile <mailto:jgarcia@ispch.cl>jgarcia@ispch.cl
 
ProMED-mail wishes to thank Dr Garcia for the reports of the virus  circulating in the turkeys. - Mod.TG
 
 
******
 
 
H1N1 Flu In Turkeys May Spread
 
Date: 27 Aug 2009 Source: FAO http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/29532/icode/
 
 
The detection of an H1N1 virus in turkeys in Chile raises concern that  poultry farms elsewhere in the world could also become infected with the  pandemic flu virus currently circulating in humans, the Food and  Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) said today.
 
Chilean authorities reported on 20 Aug 2009 that the pandemic H1N1/2009  virus was present in turkeys in 2 farms near the seaport of Valparaiso,  Chile. The flu strain found in the poultry flocks is identical to the  H1N1/2009 pandemic strain currently circulating among human populations  around the world.
 
No threat to humans
 
-------------------
 
"However, the discovery of the virus in turkeys does not pose any immediate  threat to human health and turkey meat can still be sold commercially  following veterinary inspection and hygienic processing. The reaction of  the Chilean authorities to the discovery of H1N1 in turkeys, namely prompt  reporting to international organizations, establishing a temporary  quarantine, and the decision to allow infected birds to recover rather than  culling them is scientifically sound," said FAO's interim chief veterinary  officer, Juan Lubroth. Once the sick birds have recovered, safe production  and processing can continue. They do not pose a threat to the food chain,"  said Lubroth.
 
Disease monitoring
 
The current H1N1 virus strain is a mixture of human, pig and bird genes and  has proved to be very contagious but no more deadly than common seasonal  flu viruses. However, it could theoretically become more dangerous if it  adds virulence by combining with H5N1, commonly known as avian flu, which  is far more deadly but harder to pass along among humans.
 
"Chile does not have H5N1 flu. In South East Asia, where there is a lot of  the virus circulating in poultry, the introduction of H1N1 in these  populations would be of a greater concern," said Lubroth.
 
This is one reason why the FAO encourages improved monitoring of health  among animals and ensuring that hygienic and good farming practice  guidelines are followed, including protecting farm workers if animals are  sick and not allowing sick workers near animals.
 
"We must monitor the situation in animals more closely and strengthen  veterinary services in poor and in-transition countries. They need adequate  diagnostic capability and competent and suitably resourced field teams that  can respond to emergency needs," Lubroth said.
 
This phenomenon is called genetic reassortment or recombination which may  happen in case of simultaneous viral infections of any of the hosts.
 
This is now the 4th country that is investigating the spill-over of  H1N1/2009 virus from farm workers showing flu-like illness to animals, with  swine becoming infected in Canada, Argentina and, most recently, Australia.
 
Even though the clinical infections in pigs and turkeys so far observed  have been generally mild, it is important to bear in mind that the  establishment of pandemic H1N1 virus in pig and poultry farms has the  potential to bring about negative economic consequences such as trade  related restrictions and misguided perceptions of the quality and safety of  meat products, according to FAO.
 
The emergence of new influenza virus strains capable of affecting humans  and domestic animals remains a broader, more general concern that is being  closely monitored by the FAO, the World Organisation for Animal Health  (OIE), and the World Health Organization (WHO).
 
communicated by ProMED-mail rapporteur Mary Marshall
 
 
Patricia A. Doyle DVM, PhD Bus Admin, Tropical Agricultural Economics Univ of West Indies Please visit my "Emerging Diseases" message board at: http://www.emergingdisease.org/phpbb/index.php Also my new website: http://drpdoyle.tripod.com/ Zhan le Devlesa tai sastimasa Go with God and in Good Health 
 
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