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[How dangerous is avian flu for mankind?]
Regina Allwinn1, Hans Wilhelm Doerr
1Institut für Medizinische, Virologie Reisemedizinische Impfambulanz, Universitätsklinikum der J.W. Goethe-Universität, Paul-Ehrlich-Strasse 40, 60596 Frankfurt/Main. allwinn@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Medizinische Klinik (Munich, Germany : 1983)
|December 6, 2005
Summary
Avian influenza (bird flu) is a global threat caused by influenza A viruses, which can infect various animals and humans. Eradication is unlikely due to natural reservoirs, but pandemic risk remains statistically rare.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Virology
Background:
- Avian influenza is an infectious disease caused by influenza A virus in birds, occurring globally and transmitted by migratory birds.
- The virus can infect a wide range of animals, including poultry, pigs, horses, sea mammals, and humans.
- The segmented RNA genome of influenza A viruses facilitates genomic changes like gene shift and drift.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the epidemiology and threat of avian influenza, particularly the H5N1 strain.
- To highlight the potential for avian influenza to impact both poultry and human populations.
- To discuss the challenges in eradicating avian influenza and the risk of pandemic emergence.
Main Methods:
- Review of reported outbreaks and case data for avian influenza.
- Analysis of virus transmission dynamics between avian and human populations.
- Assessment of the implications of viral reservoirs and mutation potential.
Main Results:
- Since 2003, numerous countries have reported highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) outbreaks in poultry, leading to significant culling.
- The H5N1 virus has infected humans in several countries, with a notable mortality rate.
- Avian influenza has been recognized as a potential human threat since 1997.
Conclusions:
- Complete eradication of avian influenza is improbable due to natural reservoirs in wild and domesticated birds.
- The virus possesses the potential to mutate and transmit to humans, posing a pandemic threat, although this remains a statistically infrequent occurrence.