Table 3.

Summary of respiratory droplet transmissibility of avian–human reassortant influenza viruses in ferrets

Reassortant virus	No. of contact ferrets				Respiratory droplet transmission
	Weight loss (%)*	Sneezing	Virus detected in nasal wash	Sero-conversion (HI titer)†
rgVic:486HANA	1/3 (0.8)	0/3	0/3	0/3	None
rg486:VicHANA	1/3 (0.4)	0/3	0/3	1/3 (40)	Inefficient
rg486:VicRNP	3/3 (2.3)	0/3	0/3	0/3	None
rg486:VicRNPF5	0/3	0/3	0/3	0/3	None

*The percentage mean maximum weight loss is shown.

^†HI assays were done by using Vic75 or HK486 and RBCs from turkey or horse, respectively.