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05:59
Nasal Wipes for Influenza A Virus Detection and Isolation from Swine
Published on: December 4, 2015
Pandemic influenza as a current threat
Hui-Ling Yen1, Robert G Webster
1Division of Virology, Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262, Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology
|September 22, 2009
Summary
Influenza pandemics originate in birds and adapt to humans. Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 is deadly but transmits poorly; another subtype will eventually cause a pandemic.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Influenza pandemics emerge from avian reservoirs and adapt to humans.
- Past pandemics like Spanish H1N1, Asian H2N2, and Hong Kong H3N2 involved avian or reassortment origins.
- Certain hemagglutinin (HA) subtypes (H2, H5, H6, H7, H9) possess pandemic potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the evolution of the Asian highly pathogenic (HP) H5N1 influenza virus.
- To consider other influenza subtypes with pandemic potential.
- To discuss unique features of HP H5N1 viruses impacting poultry and human health.
Main Methods:
- Evolutionary analysis of influenza virus gene segments.
- Comparative analysis of different HA subtypes.
- Review of epidemiological data on influenza outbreaks.
Main Results:
- The avian reservoir is the source of novel influenza viruses.
- Reassortment between human and avian viruses drives pandemic emergence.
- HP H5N1 viruses are highly lethal in humans (>60%) but transmit inefficiently.
Conclusions:
- Future influenza pandemics are inevitable.
- While HP H5N1 poses a significant threat, its pandemic potential remains uncertain.
- Another influenza subtype will likely emerge to cause a future pandemic.
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