Pandemic threat posed by H3N2 avian influenza virus

摘要

Dear Editor,In the last century,H1N1,H2N2,and H3N2 influenza viruses caused pandemics in 1918,1957,and 1968,respectively.In 2009,a novel H1N1 reassortant jumped from pigs to humans and caused a fourth influenza pandemic.Different lineages of H3N2 influenza viruses are commonly found in animal reservoirs.If a different lineage of H3N2 virus jumps to humans,another human influenza pandemic could occur with devastating consequences.