Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 20, 2026
08:46
Rapid Diagnosis of Avian Influenza Virus in Wild Birds: Use of a Portable rRT-PCR and Freeze-dried Reagents in the Field
Published on: August 2, 2011
Avian influenza in Hong Kong 1997-2002
1Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China. lhsims@cairns.net.au
Avian Diseases
|October 25, 2003
Summary
A 1997 high-pathogenicity H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in Hong Kong infected 18 people, causing 6 deaths. Poultry culling eliminated the virus, with no further human cases reported despite later outbreaks.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- The 1997 H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in Hong Kong marked a significant zoonotic event, affecting both poultry and humans.
- This outbreak resulted in severe disease, with a high fatality rate in the human population.
- Previous H5N1 outbreaks in poultry occurred in 2001 and 2002 with distinct genetic profiles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive overview and chronological account of avian influenza events in Hong Kong.
- To document the impact of the 1997 H5N1 outbreak on human and animal health.
- To track the evolution of H5N1 viruses in the region between March 1997 and March 2002.
Main Methods:
- Review and compilation of epidemiological data from human and poultry cases.
- Analysis of viral genetic characteristics from isolated H5N1 strains.
- Chronological documentation of outbreak events and control measures implemented.
Main Results:
- The 1997 H5N1 outbreak led to 18 human cases, including 6 fatalities.
- Effective virus elimination was achieved through the culling of all poultry.
- Subsequent H5N1 poultry outbreaks in 2001-2002 involved viruses with different internal gene constellations; no new human infections were reported.
Conclusions:
- The 1997 H5N1 outbreak demonstrated the potential for high-pathogenicity avian influenza to cause severe human disease.
- Rapid and decisive public health interventions, such as poultry market depopulation, were critical in controlling the outbreak.
- Continued surveillance is necessary to monitor H5N1 evolution and potential re-emergence in human populations.
Related Concept Videos
00:57Viral Recombination
Cells are sometimes infected by more than one virus at once. When two viruses disassemble to expose their genomes for replication in the same cell, similar regions of their genomes can pair together and exchange sequences in a process called recombination. Alternatively, viruses with segmented genomes can swap segments in a process called reassortment.
00:36Viral Mutations
A mutation is a change in the sequence of bases of DNA or RNA in a genome. Some mutations occur during replication of the genome due to errors made by the polymerase enzymes that replicate DNA or RNA. Unlike DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase is prone to errors because it is not capable of “proofreading” its work. Viruses with RNA-based genomes, like HIV, therefore accrue mutations faster than viruses with DNA-based genomes. Because mutation and recombination provide the raw material for adaptive...
01:28Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence
Infectious diseases appear in populations through various transmission patterns, influenced by pathogen characteristics, population immunity, environmental conditions, and social behavior. Understanding these patterns is essential for effective public health surveillance and intervention. These categories—sporadic, outbreak, epidemic, pandemic, and endemic—help frame the nature and scope of disease events.Sporadic diseases occur irregularly and infrequently, without a predictable temporal or...
01:20Chickenpox
Chickenpox is an acute, highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Herpesviridae family. Its transmission occurs primarily through the inhalation of respiratory droplets or direct contact with vesicular fluid from skin lesions. The incubation period typically ranges from 10 to 21 days, during which the virus replicates and disseminates through sequential phases within the host. Although generally self-limiting in children,...
01:27Influenza
Influenza is an acute, highly communicable viral disease that affects the respiratory tract and is responsible for seasonal epidemics worldwide. Influenza A is the most prevalent type associated with widespread outbreaks and is subtyped based on two surface glycoproteins: hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N), as in H1N1. These glycoproteins are essential for viral infectivity, transmission, and immune recognition. Transmission occurs primarily through respiratory droplets and contaminated...
01:29Coronavirus
Coronaviruses, including the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), are enveloped viruses characterized by their single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genome and helical nucleocapsid structure. The hallmark of these viruses is their club-shaped spike (S) glycoproteins that protrude from the viral envelope, facilitating attachment to host cells. Typically, coronaviruses infect the upper respiratory tract, often causing mild or asymptomatic disease. However, certain strains like...