Possible pandemic threat from new reassortment of influenza A(H7N9) virus in China

Z Meng; R Han; Y Hu; Z Yuan; S Jiang; X Zhang; J Xu

doi:10.2807/1560-7917.es2014.19.6.20699

Possible pandemic threat from new reassortment of influenza A(H7N9) virus in China

Euro Surveill. 2014 Feb 13;19(6):20699. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.es2014.19.6.20699.

Authors

Z Meng¹, R Han, Y Hu, Z Yuan, S Jiang, X Zhang, J Xu

Affiliation

¹ Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministry of Education/Health, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

PMID: 24556346
DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es2014.19.6.20699

Abstract

Avian influenza A(H7N9) virus re-emerged in China in December 2013, after a decrease in the number of new cases during the preceding six months. Reassortment between influenza A(H7N9) and local H9N2 strains has spread from China's south-east coast to other regions. Three new reassortments of A(H7N9) virus were identified by phylogenetic analysis: between A(H7N9) and Zhejiang-derived strains, Guangdong/Hong Kong-derived strains or Hunan-derived A(H9N2) strains. Our findings suggest there is a possible risk that a pandemic could develop.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Birds
China / epidemiology
Communicable Diseases, Emerging / transmission
Communicable Diseases, Emerging / virology*
Hong Kong
Humans
Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype / genetics
Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype / isolation & purification*
Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype / genetics
Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype / isolation & purification*
Influenza in Birds / epidemiology
Influenza in Birds / genetics
Influenza in Birds / virology
Influenza, Human / epidemiology*
Influenza, Human / genetics
Influenza, Human / virology
Pandemics*
Phylogeny
RNA, Viral / genetics*
Sequence Analysis

Substances

RNA, Viral