Entered2024.03.14 01:44 Modified2024.03.14 01:44
“Virus discovered for the first time to adapt to mammals”… Pan-American Health Organization pushes for establishment of regional committee There is a possibility of detection of highly pathogenic (H5N1) variant of avian influenza in South America that can also affect humans. Reuters reported on the 13th (local time) that the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the Americas, plans to launch the world’s first specialized regional committee for monitoring and responding to avian influenza in South America.
To this end, the Pan American Health Organization recently held a meeting with local health experts and government officials in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
This is a movement promoted in the process of related epidemiological investigation and research after a presumed case of avian influenza infection in marine mammals was reported in some South American countries at the end of last year. Previously, dolphins and seals died in places such as Chile and Peru, and highly pathogenic avian influenza virus was detected in some of the carcasses.
Since October 2022, cases of human infection have also been reported in Ecuador and Chile.
In particular, in Argentina last October, hundreds of baby elephant seals (southern elephant seals, scientific name Mirounga leonina) washed up dead in piles on the shore. A research team from the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) and the Central National University of Buenos Aires (UNICEN) estimated the mortality rate of elephant seal pups at the time to be 56-74%, which is an extremely unusual situation compared to the usual rate of less than 1%.
At that time, signs of avian influenza infection were found in the cub’s body.
Scientists believe it is unlikely that these elephant seals were infected with the virus through birds. This is because baby elephant seals usually only have contact with their mothers.
In fact, the research team identified nine new avian influenza variants in some of the samples, Reuters reported.
The research team added that some of the same variant viruses were found in samples collected from Chile and Peru.
“This is the first time that this virus has adapted to wildlife in this way,” said UC Davis researcher Ralph VanStills. “We are seeing it take small evolutionary steps toward long-term potential human infection.” . Richard Webby of St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, an expert in the field, said, “(Mammalian-to-mammal infection) is almost certain,” and analyzed, “It is difficult to explain the large-scale mortality without spreading from mammal to mammal.”
/yunhap news
2024-03-13 16:44:41
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