H1N1 Virus
H1N1
H1N1 virus is a subtype of influenza A virus. H1N1(also known as”swine Flu virus”) is a new influenza virus, first detected in some of the people in the USA (April 2009). This virus was spreading in the pattern similar to that of seasonal influenza. It is believed that H1N1 virus started spreading in Mexico first and than almost whole world was effected.
H1N1 Nomenclature
World Health Organization (WHO) has renamed the swineflu Virus as - influenza N1H1 virus. the name H1N1 came because of the two main proteins found in this virus, they are Hemagglutinin and Neuraminidase. These H protein (hemagglutinin) and N protein(neuraminidase) are important as they are responsible for infecting human beings. Each and every Viral strain has these H and N proteins, they are of many type and the number that follows H and N type on the strain describe there specific type. In influenza H1N1 virus they are present on 1st position. Hence the name given to them is H1N1. These two proteins are important because they are the main reason for causing infections in humans. The H protein (hemagglutinin) allows the virus to attach to human host cells and the other one i.e. N protein(neuraminidase) destroys mucous thus causing infection.
In the initial phases of outbreak this virus was called as “swine flu virus”as the lab test found that many genes of this virus are similar to swine influenza virus found in North American pigs. Later studies shows that this virus is very much different from that found in pigs. Its composition consist of genes of human, birds(avian) and pigs(swine)and so is is called “quadruple reassortant” by the scientists.
The CDC named it as - “Novel influenza A (H1N1)” and World Health Organization (WHO) named it influenza A(H1N1).
H1N1 virus was initially called ’swine flu virus’ and this outbreak was called “Swine flu” but many people and groups objected this name due to social and economical reasons related to swine or pork usiness,
therefore the name was changed by C.D.C and W.H.O.This virus is called by different names in different parts of the world - Israel & South Korea called it the “Mexican virus”. Later the South Korean press used “SI”, for “swine influenza”. Taiwan suggested the names “H1N1 flu” or “new flu”.