Avian Influenza: a global threat needing a global solution

Avian Influenza: a global threat needing a global solution

There have been three influenza pandemics since the 1900s, of which the 1919-1919 flu pandemic had the highest mortality rates. The influenza virus infects both humans and birds, and mutates using two mechanisms: antigenic drift and antigenic shift. Currently, the H5N1 avian flu virus is limited to outbreaks among poultry and persons in direct contact to infected poultry, but the mortality rate...

A global perspective on avian influenza.

Global public health security is both a collective aspiration and a mutual responsibility that demands cooperative action at all levels. The expansion of the current H5N1 avian influenza enzootic and its incursion into human health presents a real and significant threat of an influenza pandemic. The world has for the first time an unprecedented opportunity for pandemic preparation. Current glob...

Swine influenza: how much of a global threat?

On April 27, WHO raised its pandemic alert level from phase 3 to phase 4 after human cases of a novel H1N1 swine influenza A virus spread quickly around the world from its origin in Mexico. Concern over the virus—a hybrid of human, pig, and avian influenza— started mounting internationally last week following outbreaks of influenza-like illnesses in Mexico and other countries. As of April 28, a...

Influenza: current threat from avian influenza.

Influenza is an infectious respiratory pathogen causing annual outbreaks and infrequent pandemics, resulting in significant morbidity, mortality and burdens on the delivery of health care. The geographical spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 among poultry and wild bird populations is unprecedented. Growing numbers of sporadic avian influenza infections are occurring in human...

Avian influenza: assessing the pandemic threat Avian influenza: assessing the pandemic threat