Four Flu Pandemics: Lessons that Need to Be Learned

Pineo, Ronn

doi:10.1177/0169796x211047221

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 81 publications

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“…The occurrence of influenza virus infections in humans, based on symptoms and levels of infection commonly associated with influenza, can potentially be traced back to 412BC [1]. Influenza viruses of types A-D have been detected in numerous avian and mammalian species [2].…”

Section: A Brief History Of Influenzamentioning

confidence: 99%

The health of influenza surveillance and pandemic preparedness in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic

Daniels

McCauley

2023

Journal of General Virology

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The COVID-19 pandemic is the first to have emerged when Next Generation Sequencing was readily available and it has played the major role in following evolution of the causative agent, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2. Response to the pandemic was greatly facilitated though use of existing influenza surveillance networks: World Health Organization (WHO) Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS), focussing largely on human influenza, and the OFFLU network of expertise on avian influenza established by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). Data collection/deposition platforms associated with these networks, notably WHO’s FluNet and the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) were/are being used intensely. Measures introduced to combat COVID-19 resulted in greatly decreased circulation of human seasonal influenza viruses for approximately 2 years, but circulation continued in the animal sector with an upsurge in the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza subtype H5N1 with large numbers of wild bird deaths, culling of many poultry flocks and sporadic spill over into mammalian species, including humans, thereby increasing pandemic risk potential. While there are proposals/implementations to extend use of GISRS and GISAID to other infectious disease agents (e.g. Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Monkeypox), there is need to ensure that influenza surveillance is maintained and improved in both human and animal sectors in a sustainable manner to be truly prepared (early detection) for the next influenza pandemic.

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Section: A Brief History Of Influenzamentioning

confidence: 99%

The health of influenza surveillance and pandemic preparedness in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic

Daniels

McCauley

2023

Journal of General Virology

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“…IAVs are divided into different subtypes based on their surface glycoproteins HA and NA. To date, there are 18 different HA (H1-H18) and 11 NA (N1-N11) identified proteins, which results in 198 IAV potential subtype combinations [21]. Underlying the viral lipid membrane is a protein layer composed of the inner surface envelope M1 protein, which forms the shell, and serves as a structural support for viral particles, and the nuclear export protein (NEP/NS2), which contributes to nuclear export regulation [22,23].…”

Section: Influenza a Virus Structurementioning

confidence: 99%

Avian Influenza Virus Tropism in Humans

Bakar¹,

Amrani²,

Kamarulzaman³

et al. 2023

Preprint

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A pandemic happens when a novel influenza A virus is able to infect and transmit efficiently to a new, distinct host species. Although the exact timing of pandemics is uncertain, it is known that both viral and host factors play a role in their emergence. Species-specific interactions between the virus and the host cell determine the virus tropism. These include binding and entering cells, replicating the viral RNA genome within the host cell nucleus, assembling, maturing, and releasing the virus to neighbouring cells, tissues, or organs before transmitting it between individuals. Influenza has a vast and antigenically varied reservoir. In wild aquatic birds, the infection is typically asymptomatic. Avian influenza virus (AIV) can cross into new species, and occasionally, it can acquire the ability to transmit from human to human. A pandemic might occur if a new influenza virus acquires enough adaptive mutations to maintain transmission between people. This review highlights the key determinants AIV must achieve to initiate a human pandemic and describes how AIV mutates to establish tropism and stable human adaptation. Understanding the tropism of AIV may be crucial in preventing virus transmission in humans and may help design vaccines, antivirals and therapeutic agents against the virus.

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“…Botswana has made major strides in managing the pandemic, beginning with the Presidential Task Force that is the central command and information center, and is the advisory body to the President and Ministry of Health and Wellness. The accelerated drive to attain an artificial herd immunity through vaccination and keep COVID-19 under control has been quite effective, with the country sourcing vaccine doses from both the global COVAX/GAVI/WHO facilitation facility, a global effort to ensure acquisition and fair distribution of COVID-19 vaccines (although this has hardly been the case, e.g., see Pineo, 2021). The country also made direct acquisition of vaccines, since, unlike many other African countries, it did not qualify for subsidized vaccines under the COVAX scheme because it was classified as an upper middle-income country.…”

Section: Engendering a Disease Control Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sanitize the Man, Sanitize the Car: COVID-19 Disease Control in Botswana

Aiyuk

Molosiwa

2023

Journal of Developing Societies

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COVID-19 has dominated global health since it became a global pandemic in early 2020. It has stressed global health systems and pushed many other health concerns to the back burner. There is an urgent need to look for innovative ways to tackle the pandemic in a sustainable and transferrable manner. This article examines the COVID-19 control measures in Botswana. It describes the innovative government actions taken to control the pandemic. It also presents the observations of the authors, who have observed these actions around the country. They report on the effectiveness of the control cordon belts and the disinfection of people and animals as well as the sanitizing of objects like shoes and cars that pass across the control boundaries. Based upon the effectiveness of the control measures in Botswana, the authors recommend an innovative disease control framework for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases which they contend is replicable in other countries.

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Four Flu Pandemics: Lessons that Need to Be Learned

Cited by 5 publications

References 81 publications

The health of influenza surveillance and pandemic preparedness in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic

The health of influenza surveillance and pandemic preparedness in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic

Avian Influenza Virus Tropism in Humans

Sanitize the Man, Sanitize the Car: COVID-19 Disease Control in Botswana

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