Agricultural workers at increased risk for infection with animal flu viruses
US - Farmers, veterinarians and meat processors who routinely come into contact with pigs in their jobs have a markedly increased risk of infection with flu viruses that infect pigs.While the findings are not entirely unexpected, the strikingly higher risk of infection coupled with the fact that pigs can be infected by swine viruses, avian viruses as well as human flu viruses - thereby acting as a virtual virus "mixing bowl," especially on farms where pigs, chickens and people coexist - is a potential public health concern, the study authors assert.
" Pigs play a role in transmitting influenza virus to humans," says NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci." The worry is that if a pig were to become simultaneously infected with both a human and an avian influenza virus, genes from these viruses could reassemble into a new virus that could be transmitted to and cause disease in people."
The study results strongly suggest that occupational exposure to pigs significantly increases the risk of developing swine influenza infection. Agricultural workers should, therefore, be considered in developing flu pandemic surveillance plans and antiviral and immunization strategies, according to the study's co-investigator, Gregory C. Gray, director of the University of Iowa Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Source: xagena.it
5 December 2005
1 minute read
