After the discovery of a new influenza A virus in fruit bats in Guatemala, a study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , reveals that the virus represents no current threat to humans, although scientists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the University of the Valley of Guatemala, recommend to research the virus as a potential source for human influenza.
Leading researcher Dr. Suxiang Tong, team leader of the Pathogen Discovery Program in CDC’s Division of Viral Diseases, declared:
“This is the first time an influenza virus has been identified in bats, but in its current form the virus is not a human health issue. The study is important because the research has identified a new animal species that may act as a source of flu viruses.”
The bat influenza virus would need to obtain some genetic properties of human influenza viruses before it could be transmitted to humans. The possibility that this could happen exists through a natural process called reassortment, which occurs when a single host cell is infected by two or more influenza viruses, in which the viruses are able to swap genetic information. Whilst reassortment involves a complex number of actions, which, in some instances, can result in the emergence of new influenza viruses in humans, preliminary CDC research on the new virus has indicated compatibility between the new virus’ genes with human influenza viruses.
Co-author Dr. Ruben Donis, chief of the Molecular Virology and Vaccines Branch in CDC’s Influenza Division declares:
“Fortunately, initial laboratory testing suggests the new virus would need to undergo significant changes to become capable of infecting and spreading easily among humans. A different animal – such as a pig, horse or dog – would need to be capable of being infected with both this new bat influenza virus and human influenza viruses for reassortment to occur.”
The bat influenza virus is known to only infect little yellow-shouldered bats that commonly live in Central and South America, yet they are not native to the U.S. Global disease experts and the CDC work in collaboration to monitor influenza viruses that spread in animals, which could also affect humans.
Influenza viruses in animals that obtained the ability to infect and spread easily in humans were responsible for earlier pandemics of the 20th century and also the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.
Please contact CDC’s global disease detection and emergency response activities, for more information
Written by Petra Rattue