The medical world is buzzing with a new discovery, as a new strain of the flu has been discovered in Peruvian bats according to researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In a new study, the researchers detail the newly discovered flu virus-which, according to LiveScience, was discovered after testing 114 bats in Peru. These researchers are no strangers to discovering new strains of the flu, as just last year they discovered a new strain of the flu in fruit bats living in Guatemala.
Here are four fast facts about the new flu virus: 1. The new flu virus is being called A/bat/Peru/10. 2. The virus belongs to the 'influenza A' family of flu viruses. 3. As a member of this particular family of influenza, the virus infects birds, for the most part, but is known to infect humans and other animals. 4. Preliminary tests by the researchers at the CDC suggest that the virus is not a concern for people, as of now, according to researcher Ruben Donis, the associate director of Policy, Evaluation and Preparedness at the CDC's Influenza Division.
Naming an 'influenza A' virus is contingent upon the two proteins found on the surface of the virus: hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). For instance, if a virus has one hemagglutinin protein and one neuraminidase protein, it would be referred to as H1N1. Prior to the recent discovery, there were 17 types of H proteins and 10 types of N proteins. The A/bat/Peru/10 virus; however, has distinct proteins on the surface resulting in a new name: H18N11.
By testing the blood of bats, the researchers were able to find the H18N11 virus in several bats and to validate that other bats have been infected with the H18N11 in the past. But scientists still do not know how the virus enters the species. While they currently believe it is not harmful to humans-the researchers have not been successful in growing the virus in human and primate cells, suggesting that the virus has specific requirements for growth-they warn that they cannot say for sure that the virus can never infect people.
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