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A(H9N2) Virus

  • 13 Jan 2020
  • 2 min read

Why in News

Avian influenza A(H9N2) virus infection has been reported in a 17-month-old boy in Maharashtra.

  • This is the country’s first human case of infection with H9N2 virus. H9N2 viruses have been observed in poultry in India several times.

Key Points

  • About H9N2 Virus
    • H9N2 is a subtype of influenza A virus, which causes human influenza as well as bird flu.
    • The H9N2 subtype was isolated for the first time in Wisconsin, US in 1966 from turkey flocks.
    • H9N2 viruses are found worldwide in wild birds and are endemic in poultry in many areas.
  • Cases of Human Infection
    • H9N2 virus infections in humans are rare, but likely under-reported due to typically mild symptoms of the infections.
    • Cases of human infection have been observed in Hong Kong, China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Egypt. The first case globally was reported from Hong Kong in 1998.
  • Emerging Threat
    • H9N2 viruses could potentially play a major role in the emergence of the next influenza pandemic.
    • According to the World Health Organization (WHO), with avian influenza viruses circulating in poultry, there is a risk for sporadic infection and small clusters of human cases due to exposure to infected poultry or contaminated environments.

Source: TH

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