Post Reply - A new pandemic

tepwise adaptation of avian influenza viruses to mammalian hosts'

   DJ, I have a history background...it is frustrating to see most people even ignore/do not want to learn a thing from even the most recent history...repeating mistakes over and over...
https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2025/05/virology-journal-emerging-zoonotic.html or https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2025/05/virology-journal-emerging-zoonotic.html ;
Virology Journal: Emerging Zoonotic Potential of H4N1 Avian Influenza Virus: Enhanced Human Receptor Binding and Replication via Novel Mutations

Just yesterday, in Preprint: Progressive Adaptation of H6N1 Avian Influenza Virus in Taiwan Enhances Mammalian Infectivity, Pathogenicity and Transmissibility we looked at a study describing a  `. . . stepwise adaptation of avian influenza viruses to mammalian hosts', which the authors suggest may stem from prolonged circulation in in poultry. 
While none of these LPAI (H3, H4, H5, H9, H10) viruses currently appear to pose the same level of threat as HPAI H5 and H7, they all are purportedly showing signs of gradual adaptation to mammalian hosts. 
Although there may be (unidentified) species barriers that prevent most (or all) of these subtypes from ever posing a serious public health threat, the sharp increase in the number of known HPAI and LPAI viruses with zoonotic potential over the past 12 years has been remarkable.   
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All of which brings us to a new report, once again from China, on the zoonotic potential of LPAI H4N1 viruses, which are commonly found in wild birds and in poultry.  
In 2012's in Seroprevalence Study: Avian Flu In Chinese Pigs, we looked at research that found low levels of H3, H4, and H6 subtypes of avian influenza in Chinese pigs while in 2015 we looked at reports of Avian H4N6 In Midwestern Swine.
While human infection with H4 viruses are believed to be both mild and rare, a 2011 PLoS One study (Evidence of infection with H4 and H11 avian influenza viruses among Lebanese chicken growers) presented serological evidence suggesting that `. . .  H4 and H11 influenza viruses may possess the ability to cross the species barrier to infect humans.'
Today's study finds that - at least in the laboratory - the LPAI H4N1 virus is already surprisingly well adapted to infecting, and replicating within, mammalian hosts. 
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While most of the emerging novel viruses we look at in this blog will probably never pose a genuine  global health threat, history has repeatedly shown that pandemics are inevitable.  And recent research suggests that they are likely to emerge more frequently in the years ahead. 
PNAS Research: Intensity and Frequency of Extreme Novel Epidemics

BMJ Global: Historical Trends Demonstrate a Pattern of Increasingly Frequent & Severe Zoonotic Spillover Events
But forewarned is only forearmed, if we take steps now to prepare for the next crisis. 
DJ, We have to decrease the number of farm animals by 90-95%...move towards a much more plant based source of food. We have also to decrease the number of human hosts..."planned parenthood" is also a government job-financing a future for children. 

Governments (Russia, US) giving a bonus for more/a lot of children ignore the bigger issue...there are already way to much humans on this planet...

We are only a small part of "nature"-nature is far stronger then we are...Nature will survive us...but we are self destructive if we keep failing even basic lessons...

We still ARE in several pandemics; HIV-AIDS, CoViD...TB, flu, Mpox, measles all are increasing risks..."so lets go on ignoring that"...