Antigenic shift is the process by which two different strains of influenza combine to form a new subtype having a mixture of the surface antigens of the two original strains.
Antigenic Shift
The influenza virus can mutate through antigenic shift, causing new outbreaks to occur in human populations.
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Pandemics and Antigenic Shift
Two pandemics of influenza have swept the world since the "Spanish" flu of 1918.
The "Asian" flu pandemic of 1957 and
the "Hong Kong" flu pandemic of 1968.
Influenza A also experiences another type of mutation called antigenic shift that results in a new subtype of the virus.
 See also: Virus, Antigen, Human, Animal, Trans
  
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