Health officials are sounding alarms after a new strain of swine flu, previously confined to ferrets, has reportedly mutated and spread to humans in China. The virus, known as Influenza D (IDV), has been detected in 96% of people recently tested for flu-like symptoms in parts of the country, suggesting widespread and largely silent transmission. Researchers from the Changchun Veterinary Research Institute and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences confirmed that the strain—labeled D/HY11—can replicate in human respiratory cells and spread through airborne transmission between mammals. This marks the first time the virus has shown clear potential for person-to-person transmission. Scientists warn that the strain’s ability to spread asymptomatically, coupled with its resistance to most existing flu drugs, could make containment difficult.

Experts describe the virus as a “panzootic threat,” meaning it could infect multiple species globally. Symptoms in humans currently resemble those of the common flu—fever, nasal discharge, and sneezing—but the virus’s high adaptability and resistance to traditional antivirals raise major public health concerns. Researchers note that while Influenza D may still respond to polymerase inhibitor drugs, it appears immune to both amantadine and neuraminidase inhibitors, the standard medications for most influenza infections. The revelation comes amid growing unease over global biosecurity and the possibility of another pandemic emerging from animal-to-human transmission. Scientists warn that this discovery underscores the urgent need for surveillance and early intervention before another global health crisis unfolds.

SOURCE: MSN