Signs of an Animal Virus Discovered in Man Who Received a Pig’s Heart – The New York Times
A 57-year-old man survived for two months with a heart transplant from a genetically altered pig, but then suddenly deteriorated and died. The virus may have contributed to his death.
A genetically modified pig’s heart was used to treat a patient who had an immune system problem. The heart was screened for a virus, but the tests only pick up active infections.
Mr. Bennett’s transplant was initially deemed successful, but he became acutely ill 45 days after the surgery and died on March 8. A test indicated he had porcine CMV, but at such a low level that doctors thought it might be a lab error.
The heart transplant was one of several groundbreaking transplants in recent months. Scientists are concerned that genetically modified organs could introduce an animal disease into the human population.
Read more on this story at the following additional news sources:
- Signs of an Animal Virus Discovered in Man Who Received a Pig’s Heart The New York Times
- Pig heart used in pioneering human transplant had virus: report New York Post
- Porcine Virus Likely Killed First-Ever Recipient of Pig Heart Transplant The Daily Beast
- The gene-edited pig heart given to a dying patient was infected with a pig virus MIT Technology Review
- Ex-convict given a pig’s heart may only have died because organ was infected, report claims Daily Mail