Scientists identifies new re-assorted influenza virus with pandemic potential

Scientists have identified a new re-assorted influenza virus from pigs in China that has pandemic potential.
The virus has shown ‘increased human infectivity’ in swine industry workers.
The serological exercise showed that the new gene of the H1N1 virus has efficient infectivity and transmissibility in ferret models.
The viruses fell into six different genotypes, with the G4 strain becoming predominant since 2016.
They found that the G4 strain is a blend of three lineages-
one similar to those found in European and Asian birds
one linked to the 2009 H1N1 pandemic virus
a North American H1N1 triple-reasserting virus that has genes from avian, human, and swine sources
The virus, which the researchers call G4 EA H1N1, can grow and multiply in the cells that line the human airways.
Tests also showed that any immunity human’s gain from exposure to seasonal flu does not provide protection from G4.
It possesses "all the essential hallmarks of being highly adapted to infect humans"