MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London
Science for Health
A(H1N1) virus samples on their way to NIMR World Influenza Centre
28 April 2009
Virus isolates from American and Mexican patients are on their way to the National Institute for Medical Research for analysis and ongoing virus monitoring work. These will come from the Centre for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Dr Alan Hay will be leading efforts at NIMR to monitor any evolution in the virus. He explains:
These isolates come from clinical samples – nasal swabs – from which the virus is grown in cell culture in a dish. These individual samples of the virus are needed in order to analyse how it is changing over time and from one patient to another.
The World Influenza Centre at NIMR is one of a few WHO Collaborating Centres on Influenza that together with many WHO National Influenza Centres around the world will be taking part in this monitoring and analysis work and anticipates receiving further virus samples from patients in the UK and from countries around the world in the coming days and weeks.
Dr Hay added:
Our expertise and facilities allow us to characterise the virus, develop antiserum and compare different cases, looking particularly at antigenic drift – that is monitoring changes in the virus that could have an impact on its susceptibility to drugs or the suitability of different vaccines. This will be the crucial question in the coming weeks and constitute ongoing work until the epidemic comes to an end.
The work on the structure and evolution of the virus will feed into the development of a potential vaccine. Scientists at NIMR are working closely with colleagues at the Health Protection Agency to make sure their work is coordinated.
Responding to reports that the World Health Organisation World Influenza Centre at the National Institute for Medical Research said it was "inevitable people would die from swine flu", Dr Alan Hay, Director of the WHO World Influenza Centre made the comment in the following context:
All flu – including seasonal flu - has an associated mortality. People in the UK die from influenza every year and if swine flu was epidemic in the UK then it is likely people would die. The number of cases over the next few days and weeks will be crucial. At this stage, the confirmed cases of swine-like flu in the UK are very few and so far people are only experiencing mild symptoms. Therefore it is important to continue to remain calm.
The Health Protection Agency has provided advice on measures which can be taken to prevent infection. General infection control practices and good respiratory hand hygiene can help to reduce transmission of all viruses, including the human swine influenza. This includes:
- Covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible
- Disposing of dirty tissues promptly and carefully
- Maintaining good basic hygiene, for example washing hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to face or to other people
- Cleaning hard surfaces (e.g. door handles) frequently using a normal cleaning product
- Making sure your children follow this advice
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