The Lancet today publishes new research from scientists based in China, providing the first comprehensive genetic analysis of the H7N9 virus, and revealing further details of the virus's origin and evolutionary history.
On March 30, 2013, a novel avian influenza A H7N9 virus that infects human beings was identified. This virus had been detected in six provinces and municipal cities in China as of April 18, 2013. The authors correlated genomic sequences from avian influenza viruses with ecological information and did phylogenetic and coalescent analyses to extrapolate the potential origins of the virus and possible routes of reassortment events.
The novel avian influenza A H7N9 virus might have evolved from at least four origins. Diversity among isolates implies that the H7N9 virus has evolved into at least two different lineages. Unknown intermediate hosts involved might be implicated, extensive global surveillance is needed, and domestic-poultry-to-person transmission should be closely watched in the future.
For full Article, see:
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(13)60938-1/abstract
The Lancet