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New swine flu in eyes fear
New research has revealed that the swine flu virus can be spread through the eyes, underscoring the importance of personal hygiene to avoid the disease.
MaryAnnBenitez
February 02, 2010

New research has revealed that the swine flu virus can be spread through the eyes, underscoring the importance of personal hygiene to avoid the disease.

University of Hong Kong researchers compared the ability of swine flu H1N1 and the seasonal H1N1 and H3N2 flu viruses to replicate in cells and tissue samples from the human upper and lower respiratory tract and in the cells lining the surface of the eye.

It found that swine flu is more efficient than seasonal flu in infecting the eyes.

The study by the HKU departments of microbiology and pathology was published in the American Journal of Pathology.

"We found that pandemic H1N1 flu can actually infect and replicate in conjunctiva [the eyes] while the seasonal flu cannot," said Michael Chan Chi-wai, research assistant professor of the department of microbiology.

"The public should be made more aware to wash their hands before rubbing their eyes. It is an important route for pandemic flu."

The research also found that unlike bird flu H5N1, swine flu did not lead to a hyper-activation of the human cell cytokine response, a mechanism believed to contribute to the severity of bird flu H5N1 infection.

Cytokines are proteins secreted by the immune system.

So even if the lungs are infected by swine flu, it is usually mild, Chan said.

The researchers also found that the swine flu and seasonal flu viruses have comparable efficiency in replicating in the upper respiratory tract.

But at 33 degrees Celsius, swine flu replicates to higher levels in the bronchus, he added.

The findings indicate that swine flu differs from seasonal flu viruses in "subtle ways and these differences may explain why the pattern of illness it causes is not identical to that caused by seasonal flu," the team said.

Meanwhile, Secretary for Food and Health York Chow Yat-ngok defended the effectiveness of the swine flu vaccine, saying people who came down with the disease had not been inoculated.

"This is already good proof [for the need of a vaccine]. It has actually proved that it works," he said.

He insisted the vaccine supply is an insurance in case of need.

"The reason why we have the vaccine is to ensure that we have sufficient supply for all the patients who are in need.

"Obviously, we have sufficient supply for all the five at-risk groups in Hong Kong, plus some extra for people who are willing to take the vaccine," he said.

"It is important that we have it in reserve and are able to use it if necessary.

"It is like insurance. It is like something you put there in case you need it."

So far, 157,440 people have been vaccinated against swine flu.

The research also found that unlike bird flu H5N1, swine flu did not lead to a hyper-activation of the human cell cytokine response, a mechanism believed to contribute to the severity of bird flu H5N1 infection.

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