23/04/03

Cows could foster influenza pandemics

By: Helen Pearson

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<h1>Cows could foster influenza pandemics</h1>
<h4>By: Helen Pearson</h4>
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<p>Cattle could be harbouring new strains of influenza, according to UK researchers who are tracking emerging strains of the deadly virus in the hope of averting further human pandemics.<BR><BR>Flu viruses originate in wild birds and are thought to become lethal when they cross into poultry or pigs. In cells infected with another flu variety, the viruses pick up genes that enable them to infect humans.<BR><BR>But the recent detection of influenza genes in cattle suggests that cows could also act as breeding grounds for future flu outbreaks.<BR><BR>Reference: <em>Nature Science Update</em><BR><BR><a href="http://www.nature.com/nsu/020107/020107-4.html" target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/tracking/external/'+this.href);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Link to full text</A><BR><BR></p>

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<p>This article was originally published on <a href="https://www.scidev.net" target="_blank">SciDev.Net</a>. Read the <a href="https://www.scidev.net/global/news/cows-could-foster-influenza-pandemics/" target="_blank">original article</a>.</p>
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Cattle could be harbouring new strains of influenza, according to UK researchers who are tracking emerging strains of the deadly virus in the hope of averting further human pandemics.

Flu viruses originate in wild birds and are thought to become lethal when they cross into poultry or pigs. In cells infected with another flu variety, the viruses pick up genes that enable them to infect humans.

But the recent detection of influenza genes in cattle suggests that cows could also act as breeding grounds for future flu outbreaks.

Reference: Nature Science Update

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