Avian Influenza Virus (H5N1): a Threat to Human Health

Abstract

SUMMARY Pandemic influenza virus has its origins in avian influenza viruses. The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H5N1 is already panzootic in poultry, with attendant economic consequences. It continues to cross species barriers to infect humans and other mammals, often with fatal outcomes. Therefore, H5N1 virus has rightly received attention as a potential pandemic threat. However, it is noted that the pandemics of 1957 and 1968 did not arise from highly pathogenic influenza viruses, and the next pandemic may well arise from a low-pathogenicity virus. The rationale for particular concern about an H5N1 pandemic is not its inevitability but its potential severity. An H5N1 pandemic is an event of low probability but one of high human health impact and poses a predicament for public health. Here, we review the ecology and evolution of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 viruses, assess the pandemic risk, and address aspects of human H5N1 disease in relation to its epidemiology, clinical presentation, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management.

Canine MDCK cell lines are refractory to infection with human and mouse prions

“…This virus has the potential to become the next pandemic strain either unchanged or after reassortment with human influenza viruses A [26]. Luckily, avian influenza virus seems to spread poorly among humans and has not caused a pandemic yet, although since 2003 it has claimed the lives of 165 people worldwide [27].…”

Reassortant influenza A viruses in wild duck populations: effects on viral shedding and persistence in water

“…The emergence of the highly pathogenic (HP) H5N1 virus in domestic birds in southeastern Asia [1] and the introduction of the swine-origin H1N1 virus in human populations [2] have shown IAV ability to spread beyond species barriers and adapt rapidly to new hosts and environmental conditions. Genetic reassortment between viruses co-infecting the same host is a key process for the emergence of IAV in humans [3].…”

Vaccins pandémiques et prépandémiques dirigés contre le virus grippal H5N1

“…La prévention des épidémies grippales repose principalement sur la mise au point annuelle de vaccins efficaces suivant les recommandations périodiques de l'OMS qui se fondent sur la surveillance épidémiologique des souches circulantes. Néanmoins, l'apparition récente d'un virus grippal aviaire H5N1 [7] ayant un réel potentiel pandémique a relancé le débat sur l'organisation des systèmes de santé pour faire face à une pandé-mie. Après l'émergence des premières infections chez l'homme en 1997 et 2003 [8], le virus H5N1 réapparaît 1 Le furet représente un modèle de petit animal idéal pour l'étude de la grippe humaine, car il est très susceptible à l'infection par les virus influenza humains.…”