Hello jat-ga,
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other
relevant organizations do not limit their focus to China, but they are
certainly concerned about finding flu viruses there.
The following information from the CDC explains the process of
selecting viruses for flu shots:
"Each year, many labs throughout the world, including in the United
States, collect flu viruses. Some of these flu viruses are sent to
one of four World Health Organization (WHO) reference labs, one of
which is at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in
Atlanta, for detailed testing. These laboratories also test how well
antibodies made to the current vaccine react to the circulating virus
and new flu viruses. This information, along with information about
flu activity, is summarized and presented to an advisory committee of
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and at a WHO meeting.
These meetings result in the selection of three viruses (two subtypes
of influenza A viruses and one influenza B virus) to go into flu shots
for the following fall and winter. Usually one or two of the three
virus strains change in the vaccine each year."
"Influenza Vaccine (flu shot): Questions & Answers 2002-2003 - How are
the viruses for flu shots selected?"
CDC: National Center for Infectious Diseases
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/flu/vacfacts.htm#8
So the FDA and WHO use information from labs "around the world",
including the U.S., to make their prediction. But China is a
particular concern, for the reason you indicated in your question.
As a CNN report explains, "Normally, the tracking of a strain begins
in China, where scientists believe influenza outbreaks begin. Flu
pops up in areas where humans and animals live in close contact, with
birds passing an avian form of the flu to pigs. Elements of that
strain are eventually passed to people."
"Scientists who track flu fear new, powerful strains" (January 18,
2000)
CNN.com
http://www.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/01/17/anatomy.of.the.flu/
Accordingly, a key part of WHO's Influenza Surveillance Program is the
Animal Influenza Network, one of whose objectives is to:
"Promote the collection and characterization (antigenic and genetic)
of animal influenza viruses of potential significance to human health
from various parts of the world, especially Asia (focusing initially
on China and adjacent areas)...."
"The WHO Animal Influenza Network"
WHO
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/influenza/influenzanetwork/animalinfluenza/en/
I hope that this information is helpful.
- justaskscott-ga
Search terms used on Google:
"flu shots" strains
flu pigs china cdc
site:who.int flu pigs china
"animal influenza network"
[I searched for other terms as well, but these searches resulted in
the pages I have cited.] |
