The genome of influenza virus A "argentina" is similar to the rest of the world

22 de julio de 2009

The Ministry of Health reported that the genome of influenza virus A H1N1 that exists in Argentina "is pathogenic" that circulates throughout the world. This new data "for information about the development of a vaccine," said the Financial Institute Malbrán, Gustavo Rios.

According to the sequence obtained by the experts, the virus in the country "has no significant differences" with the detected elsewhere in the world, a revelation "very important" because the strains used for laboratories to move forward in the development of medicines.

The genome research was taken from two patients, one affected by a "serious" influenza A and other "mild" to "early June, when the disease showed a" greater "contagion in the metropolitan area .

The study also helped to know that the virus found in Argentina did not provide resistance to antiviral drugs prescribed by doctors as a treatment for people suffering from the disease.

Identification of the genome was announced to the press by the Deputy Minister of Health, Fernando Avellaneda, the auditor's Malbrán, Gustavo Rios, scientific and Elsa Baumeister, who was in charge of the investigation.

"This is an information center for (developing) the vaccine, which is, however, a complex process that requires technical steps. With this identification can assimilate the virological status of the country," said Rios.

The virus that affects the Argentina "is very similar" to other nations as in Mexico and United States, which revealed the first cases of the disease in mid-April, said Baumeister.

Scientists anticipated that work on seven other strains of virus identified in the country "to complete the genome to quickly" to see if there are differences with those already identified.

The study also revealed that the virus did not provide resistance to the antiviral oseltamivir, used to treat the disease.

The information collected by specialists Malbrán be made available to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to develop a vaccine effective in prevention.

"The identification of the genome will be a 'basic input' to the laboratories and for physicians, who have key information for the treatment of critically ill patients," said the deputy Avellaneda.