China respiratory illness: What’s the H9N2 avian flu outbreak there all about?

A subtype of avian flu virus needs to be watched for mutations.

Avian flu primarily affects birds with a high prevalence in poultry such as chickens and turkeys and can easily jump to humans. Avian flu primarily affects birds with a high prevalence in poultry such as chickens and turkeys and can easily jump to humans.

Ever since the outbreak of a mysterious respiratory illness that’s affecting children in northern China, authorities there have been talking about a cocktail of viruses that are breaking out again after pandemic restrictions. One of the viruses in circulation is H9N2, a subtype of the Influenza A virus. It primarily affects birds with a high prevalence in poultry such as chickens and turkeys and can easily jump to humans. It is highly transmissible and while it is known to cause mild illness, sometimes it manifests as a severe infection that can result in complications.

Why is H9N2 under the scanner?

A new study from researchers in China and Nottingham has discovered that a subtype of avian flu virus, endemic in poultry farms in China, is undergoing mutational changes, which could increase the risk of the disease being passed on to humans.

Researchers also say that the findings raise concerns of a potential epidemic or pandemic in the making and that concerted research is necessary to closely monitor such viruses in poultry and humans. This has raised some concern given that the coronavirus mutation resulted in a pandemic. However, at the moment there has been no confirmation of a new strain and there is no need to panic.

https://indianexpress.com/article/health-wellness/china-respiratory-illness-whats-the-h9n2-avian-flu-outbreak-there-all-about-9048145/