‘It’s not a new virus’: WHO expert after study warns of new H1N1 strain in China with pandemic potential

A World Health Organisation (WHO) expert has sought to calm fears following the disclosure that a new strain of the H1N1 swine flu virus, which has pandemic potential, was spreading fast among workers on Chinese pig farms. A group of scientists had warned that the virus should be “urgently” brought under control to prevent the start of another pandemic even as the world continues to battle the novel coronavirus or COVID-19. It may be recalled that H1N1, a highly contagious virus, had spread around the globe in 2009 and killed nearly 285,000 people. It then went on to transform into a seasonal flu. The WHO expert, however, said that the virus strain – G4 EA H1N1 – was not a new virus and it has been under close surveillance. Michael Ryan, executive director of the WHO Health Emergencies Program, said Eurasian avian-like H1N1 swine influenza virus has “been under surveillance by Chinese...