H5N1 infects pigs in Bali, Indonesia

Singapore’s agriculture ministry reports on Monday that two pigs were infected with the H5N1 flu virus last July. A veterinary team had discovered avian influenza infected two pigs in the regencies of Gianyar and Tabanan in Bali but it was not reported whether the pigs had died.

Although reports of trasmission of the H5N1 to pigs are rare, such occurrences have been found intermittently in China in 2001 and 2003, and last year in Indonesia. Last year’s cases in Indonesia were found in healthy, asymptomatic pigs, which raises concern about the virus’ ability to spread silently from swine to humans. Since the host is healthy, the virus has a longer period to shed and infect more.

Pigs are a concern because they are susceptible to many of the viruses that infect humans. Swines can act as mixing vessels in which genetic material from avian flu viruses can mix with human influenza viruses, potentially producing new and deadly strains for which humans have no immunity.

[Source: Reuters AlertNet]

Tags: avian flu, H5N1, transmissibility, swine, pigs