In a new study published in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Dr. Michael Chan and his team examine the replication ability of the novel influenza A(H3N8) virus in human bronchus and lung tissues through comparisons with viruses like H5N1. The findings reveal the limited replication efficiency for the novel H3N8 virus to transmit among humans.
Abstract
Human infection with avian influenza A(H3N8) virus is uncommon but can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome. In explant cultures of the human bronchus and lung, novel H3N8 virus showed limited replication efficiency in bronchial and lung tissue but had a higher replication than avian H3N8 virus in lung tissue.