Shanghai CDC says no swine flu virus in city
NO cases of the swine flu virus have been reported in Shanghai, the city’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention has announced.
The Eurasian avian-like H1N1 swine influenza virus has limited transmission among humans. Local citizens should take proper prevention measures, but there is no need to panic, the Shanghai CDC said on Saturday, noting that pork is safe to eat.
Chinese scientists have examined influenza viruses found in pigs from 2011 to 2018 and discovered the variant genotype 4 H1N1 virus (G4 EA H1N1) that can infect humans, according to a study recently published by the US journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
It possesses “all the essential hallmarks of a candidate pandemic virus,” the authors wrote, calling for measures to control the virus in pigs and closely monitor the situation.
Shanghai has 30 hospitals that have influenza-monitoring sites, including 19 at national level. They are monitoring influenza-like illnesses and severe acute respiratory infection continuously. The city also has over a dozen influenza laboratories at the city- and district-level CDCs that have the capability to detect the virus.
“These monitoring sites have so far found no G4 avian-like H1N1 virus in Shanghai,” the city’s CDC said.
All influenza viruses can be killed by high temperatures during cooking, the CDC said.
Pork should be fully cooked, and people must wash hands after processing raw meat. Citizens are reminded to avoid buying meat products without quarantine inspection.
Citizens should avoid contact with pigs. Professionals must wear masks and gloves when touching animals.
People with influenza symptoms after contact with pigs must go to hospital immediately, the CDC said. Symptoms of the G4 influenza include fever, coughs and sore throats as well as other flu-like symptoms.
China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said on Saturday that the G4 strain of swine flu virus is not new and does not infect or sicken humans and animals easily. It said in a statement that the PNAS study has been interpreted by the media “in an exaggerated and nonfactual way.”
An analysis by the agriculture ministry concluded that sampling of the published study is too small to be representative, while the article lacks adequate evidence to show the G4 virus has become the dominant strain among pigs.
The ministry said it drew its conclusions after holding a seminar on the G4 virus’ impact on the hog industry and public health. Participants included Chinese veterinarians and anti-virus experts, as well as the leading authors of the PNAS study.
The participants concurred that the G4 virus is not new. Furthermore, such a strain has been monitored continuously by the World Health Organization and related agencies in China since 2011, the statement said.
(Shanghai Daily/Reuters)