CDC begins preparations for new swine flu viruses
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this month said it is taking steps to prepare for the possible spread of H1N1 swine influenza viruses.
The group of viruses, labeled “G4” Eurasian avian-like H1N1 viruses, are believed to be highly adaptable for human infection.
CDC said it is taking a number of actions to monitor and prepare against this emerging public health threat, including:
- coordinating with public health partners in China, including requesting a virus sample;
- assessing the risk of the virus causing a pandemic using CDC’s Influenza Risk Assessment Tool;
- evaluating whether an existing candidate vaccine virus against a closely related flu virus (called “G5”) would protect against this virus;
- if needed, creating a new candidate vaccine virus specific to G4 viruses; and
- studying whether existing flu antiviral drugs offer protection against this group of viruses.
Related News Articles
Headline
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention March 4 announced it sent agency experts to Texas to assist local officials in responding to the state’s measles…
Headline
A school-aged child in Texas is the first reported individual to die from measles amid an outbreak in the South Plains and Panhandle regions of the state, the…
Headline
The Central Nevada Health District yesterday announced the state's first case of H5N1 bird flu, a dairy farm worker who was exposed to infected cattle. The…
Headline
At least 24 million people have had seasonal flu this season, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly 49,000…
Headline
Respiratory illness activity remains high across the country, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Seasonal flu…
Headline
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today released an advisory recommending clinicians expedite subtyping of type A influenza samples from…