Promiscuity of H3N8 flu virus raises concern as scientists demonstrate some strains can go undetected in pigs
Posted: 22 September, 2015
Scientists have shown for the first time that two different strains of the H3N8 influenza A virus (IAV) are able to infect and replicate in pigs; one isolated from seals and an avian strain circulating in poultry in the US. The study, which was led by Pirbright’s Dr Maria Montoya, also revealed that the standard Haemagglutination Inhibition test (HAI) used to detect flu in livestock and a vital tool for flu surveillance, was ineffective for the H3N8 strain in porcine hosts.