The institute does follow scientific publications and all reports from the World Health Organization (WHO). If these give cause for action, for example, the National Influenza Center of RIVM and Erasmus MC can be called in for further research.
Not a new virus
“But we are not doing all kinds of things preventively,” said a spokeswoman. RIVM points out that the virus is not really new: infections were already noticed and described in 2016.
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The virus, which has been given the name G4 EA H1N1, is similar to swine flu, but has a number of other characteristics. The virus that causes swine flu has been included in the annual flu shot. If necessary, it could be with this virus, the researchers say. But the Chinese researchers also say that the virus strain has all the important features of a candidate pandemic.
Pig-on-man infection
G4 is highly contagious and can pass from pig to human, but there is no evidence that humans can infect each other. The study found that 35 of the 338 pig farmers surveyed had contracted the virus. Existing flu vaccines do little against it. Ferrets that received it became sicker than other flu viruses.
Belgian virologist Steven van Gucht agrees with his Chinese colleagues. “We know that flu viruses cause a pandemic about every 20 years. This virus is a serious candidate for several reasons,” he told Belgian newspaper De Morgen.
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The new virus in short
The first infections of the new virus, G4 EA H1N1, were already noticed and described in 2016. The virus is descended from the H1N1 virus, or the Mexican flu. G4 is highly contagious and can pass from pig to human, but there is no evidence that humans can infect each other.
Given the characteristics of the new virus, it could turn into a pandemic, but RIVM is not currently worried.
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