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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
09:07
Using Zebrafish Models of Human Influenza A Virus Infections to Screen Antiviral Drugs and Characterize Host Immune Cell Responses
Published on: January 20, 2017
[Will avian influenza virus become a human virus?]
Y Thomas1, W Wunderli, P Cherpillod
1Centre national de la grippe, HUG, 1211 Genève 14.
Revue Medicale Suisse
|June 20, 2007
Summary
Highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) virus regularly infects humans, causing severe respiratory illness. Despite its avian origin and genomic adaptability, H5N1 has not yet acquired efficient human-to-human transmission, posing a pandemic risk.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Context:
- Avian influenza A (H5N1) virus, originating in wild and domestic birds, has caused severe human respiratory infections since 1997.
- Widespread poultry infections across Asia, Africa, and Europe highlight the virus's extensive circulation.
- The virus's ability to adapt its genome raises concerns about potential direct transmission to humans.
Purpose:
- To summarize current knowledge regarding the risk of a future influenza pandemic caused by avian influenza A (H5N1) virus.
- To review the epidemiological patterns and viral characteristics associated with H5N1 infections in poultry and humans.
Summary:
- Since 1997, avian influenza A (H5N1) has regularly caused severe, often fatal, human respiratory infections.
- The virus circulates globally in poultry populations, with millions infected or culled across three continents.
- Despite its theoretical capacity for adaptation and direct avian-to-human transmission, H5N1 has not yet demonstrated sustained human-to-human spread.
Impact:
- Understanding the H5N1 pandemic risk is crucial for public health preparedness and response strategies.
- This review informs ongoing research into viral evolution, transmission dynamics, and the development of effective countermeasures against potential influenza pandemics.
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