Dutch researchers find mutation in swine flu virus
28 Sep 2009
This story has not widely circulated. Two Dutch scientists reported in ProMed, that two patients diagnosed with H1N1 A 2009 virus had a mutation in the PB2 protein. This mutation had been historically associated with increased virulence in other influenza A strains.
Both patients infected with this H1N1 mutation recovered. One patient had experienced mild flu symptoms; the other was reportedly treated with an antiviral medication. Preliminary experiments on ferrets using this H1N1 mutation did not indicate any increase in virulence. A followup on this story was reported in the Canadian Press.
ProMed, is a website and mailing list that provides early warning of outbreaks of emerging and re-emerging diseases.
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