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Zoonotic risk, veterinary impact and surveillance of porcine influenza A viruses in the context of the emergence of the pandemic influenza A/H1N1 (2009) virus

Abstract:

Porcine influenza A viruses currently circulating in Belgium belong to the subtypes H1N1, H3N2 and H1N2. These zoonotic viruses can be transmitted between swine and humans by direct contact or by aerosol. The pandemic influenza A/H1N1 (2009) virus is a new strain of the human H1N1 influenza A virus resulting from a reassortment between two porcine viruses. Its transmission occurs mainly inter101 human, although several independent and isolated cases have been identified in swine herds in different parts of the world. The virus has not yet been isolated in Belgian swine. If the virus is introduced in the Belgian pig population, the risk of further spread becomes eminent, because of its ability of airborne transmission and of the high density of the pig population in Belgium, particularly in the North of the country. Nevertheless, due to the weak pathogenicity of this strain, the economic impact is expected to be low for the porcine industry. However, infection of pigs with the pandemic influenza A/H1N1 strain might increase the risk of viral reassortment with other influenza A virus strains with possible negative public health consequences. To enable an early detection and reduce the risk of dissemination of the pandemic influenza A/H1N1 (2009) virus in the swine population, the establishment of a virological surveillance targeted on the presence of acute respiratory signs in pigs is recommended. Under the current conditions, vaccination of the pigs against the influenza A/H1N1 virus (2009) does not seem to be necessary. Such a vaccination of pigs might be recommended in case of high viral circulation in swine and in humans, to limit the risk of reassortment and protect public health.