Scientists call for caution as new flu discovered in pigs

A new strain of flu that has the potential to become a pandemic has been identified in pigs in China.

According to the BBC, scientists say while it’s not an immediate problem, it has “all the hallmarks” of being highly adapted to infect humans and needs close monitoring.

Quoting Prof Kin-Chow Chang, who has been studying the virus, the media quotes him saying the virus has the potential to grow and multiply in the cells that line the human airways.

Current flu vaccines the BBC adds do not appear to protect against it, although they could be adapted to do so if needed.

“Right now we are distracted with coronavirus and rightly so. But we must not lose sight of potentially dangerous new viruses” Prof Kin-Chow Chang told the BBC.

Still fresh on the minds of many is the raging COVID-19 pandemic that has left thousands the world over dead.

Image: BBC

MMI