Swine flu virus mutates, new cases in southern hemisphere

The H1N1 swine flu virus may be starting to mutate and a slightly new form has begun to predominate in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.

In a report in the online publication Eurosurveillance, a team at the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza in Melbourne, Australia, wrote that the virus’s adaptive mutations should be carefully monitored as the northern hemisphere approaches its winter influenza season.

“This is the first time we’ve seen – certainly in the southern hemisphere – this narrowing of the evolution of the virus,” Ian Barr, Deputy Director for the WHO Collaborating Centre, told Vatican Radio. “Usually when we see these sorts of changes becoming embedded in the virus, we do take some interest because it may, not at the moment, but further down the track it may have some impact on our selection of vaccines.”

Barr says that the current vaccine should protect against this new variant, but continuing influenza surveillance is important to monitor changes in the genetic make-up of the virus.

“That may indicate that it’s starting to evolve a little more or that its trying to change its shape so that it’s no longer recognized by either the immunity which is being built up from the last episodes of infection or through the vaccine.”

Listen to Ian Barr’s full interview Kelsea Brennan-Wessels…