G4 virus and Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN)

Subject: IR

Context:

Researchers in China have discovered a new strain of the influenza virus which they claim has the potential to turn into a pandemic.

Concept:

• The scientists identified the virus through surveillance of influenza viruses in pigs that they carried out from 2011 to 2018 in ten provinces of China.
• They found that the G4 strain has the capability of binding to human-type receptors (like, the SARS-CoV-2 virus binds to ACE2 receptors in humans), was able to copy itself in human airway epithelial cells
• While researchers have found that the virus can spread from animal to human, there is still no evidence about the passing to the G4 virus from human to human.

Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN)

• The Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network also referred to as GOARN is a global technical partnership , established by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a key mechanism to engage the resources of technical agencies beyond the United Nations for rapid identification, confirmation and response to public health emergencies of international importance.
• The main objective of the network is to provide technical support to WHO Member States experiencing a human health emergency due to various threats including disease outbreaks, food safety, chemical toxins, zoonosis, natural and manmade disasters etc.
• GOARN currently comprises over 250 technical institutions and networks (and their members) across the globe. These Partners include medical and surveillance initiatives, regional technical networks, networks of laboratories, United Nations organizations (e.g. UNICEF, UNHCR), the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (ICRC, IFRC), international humanitarian non-governmental organisations and national public health institutions. All have the ability to pool their resources rapidly to assist affected countries seeking support.