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Encyclopedia > Influenza pandemics

Note: For information about the content, tone and sourcing of this article, please see the tags at the bottom of this page. An influenza pandemic is a large scale epidemic of the influenza virus, such as the 1918 Spanish flu. ...

Flu

An influenza pandemic is an epidemic of the influenza virus that spreads on a worldwide scale and infects a large proportion of the human population. In contrast to the regular seasonal epidemics of influenza, these pandemics occur irregularly, with the 1918 Spanish flu the most serious pandemic in recent history. Pandemics can cause high levels of mortality, with the Spanish influenza being responsible for the deaths of over 50 million people. Image File history File links Flu_und_legende_color_c. ... Influenza, commonly known as flu, is an infectious disease of birds and mammals caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae (the influenza viruses). ... Genera Influenzavirus A Influenzavirus B Influenzavirus C Isavirus Thogotovirus The Orthomyxoviridae are a family of RNA viruses which infect vertebrates. ... For the H5N1 subtype of Avian influenza see H5N1. ... Flu season is mostly a colloquial term used to describe the regular outbreak in flu cases, or even cases of the common cold during the late fall or winter. ... Flu research includes molecular virology, pathogenesis, host immune responses, genomics, and epidemiology. ... Model of Influenza Virus from NIH The flu vaccine is a vaccine to protect against the highly variable influenza virus. ... This article is about flu treatment in humans for mild human flu, which includes both efforts to reduce symptoms and treatments for the flu virus itself. ... The Influenza Genome Sequencing Project is funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) which is a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. ... Influenza A virus subtype H5N1, also known as A(H5N1) or simply H5N1, is a subtype of the Influenza A virus which can cause illness in humans and many other animal species. ... In epidemiology, an epidemic (from [[Latin language] epi- upon + demos people) is a disease that appears as new cases in a given human population, during a given period, at a rate that substantially exceeds what is expected, based on recent experience (the number of new cases in the population during... Influenza, commonly known as flu, is an infectious disease of birds and mammals caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae (the influenza viruses). ... This article is about biological infectious particles. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... The 1918 flu pandemic (commonly referred to as the Spanish flu) was a category 5 influenza pandemic caused by an unusually severe and deadly Influenza A virus strain of subtype H1N1. ...


Influenza pandemics occur when a new strain of the influenza virus is transmitted to humans from another animal species. Species that are thought to be important in the emergence of new human strains are pigs, chickens and ducks. These novel strains are unaffected by any immunity people may have to older strains of human influenza and can therefore spread extremely rapidly and infect very large numbers of people. Influenza A viruses can occasionally be transmitted from wild birds to other species causing outbreaks in domestic poultry and may give rise to human influenza pandemics.[1] [2] Influenza A virus, the virus that causes Avian flu. ...


The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that there is a substantial risk of an influenza pandemic within the next few years. One of the strongest candidates is a highly pathogenic variation of the H5N1 subtype of Influenza A virus. As of 2006, prepandemic influenza vaccines are being developed against the most likely suspects which include H5N1, H7N1, and H9N2.[3] WHO redirects here. ... This article is about large epidemics. ... Influenza A virus subtype H5N1, also known as A(H5N1) or simply H5N1, is a subtype of the Influenza A virus which can cause illness in humans and many other animal species. ... Influenza A virus, the virus that causes Avian flu. ... Model of Influenza Virus from NIH The flu vaccine is a vaccine to protect against the highly variable influenza virus. ... Influenza A virus subtype H5N1, also known as A(H5N1) or simply H5N1, is a subtype of the Influenza A virus which can cause illness in humans and many other animal species. ... H7N1 is a subtype of the species Influenzavirus A (avian influenza virus or bird flu virus). ... H9N2 is a subtype of the species avian influenza virus (bird flu virus). ...

Contents

Influenza

Main article: Influenza
Structure of the influenza viron. The hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) proteins are shown on the surface of the particle. The viral RNAs that make up the genome are shown as red coils inside the particle and bound to Ribonuclear Proteins (RNPs).
Structure of the influenza viron. The hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) proteins are shown on the surface of the particle. The viral RNAs that make up the genome are shown as red coils inside the particle and bound to Ribonuclear Proteins (RNPs).

Influenza, commonly known as flu, is an infectious disease of birds and mammals caused by an RNA virus of the family Orthomyxoviridae (the influenza viruses). In humans, common symptoms of influenza infection are fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, and weakness and fatigue.[4] In more serious cases, influenza causes pneumonia, which can be fatal, particularly in young children and the elderly. Sometimes confused with the common cold, influenza is a much more severe disease and is caused by a different type of virus.[5] Although nausea and vomiting can be produced, especially in children,[4] these symptoms are more characteristic of the unrelated gastroenteritis, which is sometimes called "stomach flu" or "24-hour flu."[6] Influenza, commonly known as flu, is an infectious disease of birds and mammals caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae (the influenza viruses). ... Image File history File links 3D_Influenza_virus. ... Image File history File links 3D_Influenza_virus. ... Hemagglutinin, as depicted in a simplified molecular model. ... Neuraminidase is a glycoside hydrolase enzyme (EC 3. ... This false-colored electron micrograph shows a malaria sporozoite migrating through the midgut epithelia. ... For other uses, see Bird (disambiguation). ... Subclasses & Infraclasses Subclass †Allotheria* Subclass Prototheria Subclass Theria Infraclass †Trituberculata Infraclass Metatheria Infraclass Eutheria Mammals (class Mammalia) are warm-blooded, vertebrate animals characterized by the presence of sweat glands, including milk producing sweat glands, and by the presence of: hair, three middle ear bones used in hearing, and a neocortex... An RNA virus is a virus that either uses RNA as its genetic material, or whose genetic material passes through an RNA intermediate during replication. ... Scientific classification or biological classification refers to how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. ... Genera Influenzavirus A Influenzavirus B Influenzavirus C Isavirus Thogotovirus The Orthomyxoviridae are a family of RNA viruses which infect vertebrates. ... An analogue medical thermometer showing the temperature of 38. ... ώ:For the noisegrind band, see Sore Throat. ... Myalgia means muscle pain and is a symptom of many diseases and disorders. ... A headache (cephalgia in medical terminology) is a condition of pain in the head; sometimes neck or upper back pain may also be interpreted as a headache. ... Malaise is a feeling of general discomfort or uneasiness, an out of sorts feeling, often the first indication of an infection or other disease. ... This article is about human pneumonia. ... // Acute viral nasopharyngitis, or acute coryza, usually known as the common cold, is a highly contagious, viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory system, primarily caused by picornaviruses or coronaviruses. ... For other uses, see Nausea (disambiguation). ... Emesis redirects here. ... See also Bacterial gastroenteritis and Diarrhea Gastroenteritis is a general term referring to inflammation or infection of the gastrointestinal tract, primarily the stomach and intestines. ...


Typically, influenza is transmitted from infected mammals through the air by coughs or sneezes, creating aerosols containing the virus, and from infected birds through their droppings. Influenza can also be transmitted by saliva, nasal secretions, feces and blood. Infections occur through contact with these bodily fluids or with contaminated surfaces. Flu viruses can remain infectious for about one week at human body temperature, over 30 days at 0 °C (32 °F), and indefinitely at very low temperatures (such as lakes in northeast Siberia). Most influenza strains can be inactivated easily by disinfectants and detergents.[7][8][9] Particulates, alternatively referred to as particulate matter (PM), aerosols or fine particles, are tiny particles of solid or liquid suspended in a gas. ... Horse feces Feces, faeces, or fæces (see spelling differences) is a waste product from an animals digestive tract expelled through the anus (or cloaca) during defecation. ... For the band, see Saliva (band). ... Mucus cells. ... Horse feces Feces, faeces, or fæces (see spelling differences) is a waste product from an animals digestive tract expelled through the anus (or cloaca) during defecation. ... Human blood smear: a - erythrocytes; b - neutrophil; c - eosinophil; d - lymphocyte. ... Celsius is, or relates to, the Celsius temperature scale (previously known as the centigrade scale). ... For other uses, see Fahrenheit (disambiguation). ... This article is about Siberia as a whole. ... This is an article about antimicrobial agents. ... Laundry detergents are just one of many possible uses for detergents Detergent is a compound, or a mixture of compounds, intended to assist cleaning. ...


Flu spreads around the world in seasonal epidemics, killing millions of people in pandemic years and hundreds of thousands in non-pandemic years. Three influenza pandemics occurred in the 20th century and killed tens of millions of people, with each of these pandemics being caused by the appearance of a new strain of the virus in humans. Often, these new strains result from the spread of an existing flu virus to humans from other animal species. Since it first killed humans in Asia in the 1990s, a deadly avian strain of H5N1 has posed the greatest risk for a new influenza pandemic; however, this virus has not mutated to spread easily between people.[10] In epidemiology, an epidemic (from [[Latin language] epi- upon + demos people) is a disease that appears as new cases in a given human population, during a given period, at a rate that substantially exceeds what is expected, based on recent experience (the number of new cases in the population during... This article is about large epidemics. ... In biology, Strain can be used two ways. ... For other uses, see Species (disambiguation). ... Influenza A virus subtype H5N1, also known as A(H5N1) or simply H5N1, is a subtype of the Influenza A virus which can cause illness in humans and many other animal species. ... For linguistic mutation, see Apophony. ...


Vaccinations against influenza are most commonly given to high-risk humans in industrialized countries[11] and to farmed poultry.[12] The most common human vaccine is the trivalent influenza vaccine that contains purified and inactivated material from three viral strains. Typically this vaccine includes material from two influenza A virus subtypes and one influenza B virus strain.[13] A vaccine formulated for one year may be ineffective in the following year, since the influenza virus changes rapidly over time and different strains become dominant. Antiviral drugs can be used to treat influenza, with neuraminidase inhibitors being particularly effective. A vial of the vaccine against influenza. ... Model of Influenza Virus from NIH The flu vaccine is a vaccine to protect against the highly variable influenza virus. ... Genera Influenzavirus A Influenzavirus B Influenzavirus C Isavirus Thogotovirus Influenzavirus A is a genus of the family of viruses called Orthomyxoviridae in virus classification. ... Influenzavirus B is a genus in the virus family Orthomyxoviridae. ... Antiviral drugs are a class of medication used specifically for treating viral infections. ... Neuraminidase inhibitors are a class of antiviral drugs, whose mode of action relies on blocking the function of viral neuraminidase protein, thus preventing the virus from budding from the host cell. ...


Variants and subtypes of Influenzavirus A

Main article: Influenzavirus A

Variants of Influenzavirus A are identified and named according to the isolate that they are like and thus are presumed to share lineage (example Fujian flu virus like); according to their typical host (example Human flu virus); according to their subtype (example H3N2); and according to their deadliness (example LP). So a flu from a virus similar to the isolate A/Fujian/411/2002(H3N2) is called Fujian flu, human flu, and H3N2 flu.[14] Genera Influenzavirus A Influenzavirus B Influenzavirus C Isavirus Thogotovirus Influenzavirus A is a genus of the family of viruses called Orthomyxoviridae in virus classification. ... Genera Influenzavirus A Influenzavirus B Influenzavirus C Isavirus Thogotovirus Influenzavirus A is a genus of the family of viruses called Orthomyxoviridae in virus classification. ... See H5N1 flu and Flu for details about the illnesses and H5N1 and H3N2 for details about the causitive agents. ... Human Flu refers to a subset of Orthomyxoviridae that create influenza in humans and are endemic in humans. ... H3N2 is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus (sometimes called bird flu virus). ... Respiratory disease properly named influenza(say: in-floo-en-zah ). Some specific varities of influenza with a vaccination available are: A-New Caledonia, A-California, B-Shanghai. ...


Variants are sometimes named according to the species (host) the strain is endemic in or adapted to. Some variants named using this convention are:[15]

Avian variants have also sometimes been named according to their deadliness in poultry, especially chickens: For the H5N1 subtype of Avian influenza see H5N1. ... Human Flu refers to a subset of Orthomyxoviridae that create influenza in humans and are endemic in humans. ... Swine Flu is a form of Type A influenza that is normally virulent only in pigs. ... Horse flu (or Equine influenza) refers to varieties of influenzavirus A that are endemic in horses. ... Canine influenza or dog flu refers to varieties of influenzavirus A that affect dogs. ...

  • Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI)
  • Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), also called: deadly flu or death flu

The Influenza A virus subtypes are labeled according to an H number (for hemagglutinin) and an N number (for neuraminidase). Each subtype virus has mutated into a variety of strains with differing pathogenic profiles; some pathogenic to one species but not others, some pathogenic to multiple species. Most known strains are extinct strains. For example, the annual flu subtype H3N2 no longer contains the strain that caused the Hong Kong Flu.[14] Hemagglutinin, as depicted in a simplified molecular model. ... Neuraminidase is a glycoside hydrolase enzyme (EC 3. ... This article is about mutation in biology, for other meanings see: mutation (disambiguation). ... A pathogen (literally birth of pain from the Greek παθογένεια) is a biological agent that can cause disease to its host. ... H3N2 is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus (sometimes called bird flu virus). ... The Hong Kong Flu was a pandemic outbreak of influenza that began in Hong Kong in 1968 and spread to the United States of America that year. ...


Influenza A viruses are negative sense, single-stranded, segmented RNA viruses. "There are 16 different HA antigens (H1 to H16) and nine different NA antigens (N1 to N9) for influenza A. Until recently, 15 HA types had been recognized, but a new type (H16) was isolated from black-headed gulls caught in Sweden and the Netherlands in 1999 and reported in the literature in 2005." [16] This article is about biological infectious particles. ... An RNA virus is a virus that either uses RNA as its genetic material, or whose genetic material passes through an RNA intermediate during replication. ... An antigen or immunogen is a molecule that stimulates an immune response. ... An antigen or immunogen is a molecule that stimulates an immune response. ... Binomial name Larus ridibundus Linnaeus, 1766 The Black-headed Gull, (Larus ridibundus), is a small gull which breeds in much of Europe and Asia, and also in coastal eastern Canada. ... This article is about the year. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...


Nature of a flu pandemic

Some pandemics are relatively minor such as the one in 1957 called "Asian flu". Others have a higher Pandemic Severity Index whose severity warrants more comprehensive social isolation measures.[17] The Asian Flu was a pandemic outbreak of influenza that originated in China in 1957 and spread worldwide that same year. ... The Pandemic Severity Index (PSI) is a scale or index created in January 2007 by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) designed to mimic the system for indexing the severity of hurricanes (which is the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale for tropical cyclones). ...


In a bad pandemic, some communities attempt to cut themselves off totally while others have half (or more) of their population die, and others may not feel many of the effects but may still be affected due to the high degree of illness and the bereavement felt by the members of the community. Desperate people try anything to cure or prevent the illness.[18] The 1918 pandemic killed around 150,000 people in the UK, but even the loss of this relatively small number of people in the population caused upheaval and psychological damage to many people.[19] There are not enough doctors, hospital rooms, or medical supplies for the living due to their contracting the disease and dead bodies often lie unburied as few people are available to deal with them. There is great social disruption and a sense of fear and efforts to deal with the pandemic always leave a great deal to be desired due to selfishness, lack of trust, illegal behavior, and ignorance. For example in the 1918 pandemic "This horrific disconnect between reassurances and reality destroyed the credibility of those in authority. People felt they had no one to turn to, no one to rely on, no one to trust." [20]


A letter from a physician at one U.S. Army camp in the 1918 pandemic said:

It is only a matter of a few hours then until death comes [...]. It is horrible. One can stand it to see one, two or twenty men die, but to see these poor devils dropping like flies [...]. We have been averaging about 100 deaths per day [...]. Pneumonia means in about all cases death [...]. We have lost an outrageous number of Nurses and Drs. It takes special trains to carry away the dead. For several days there were no coffins and the bodies piled up something fierce [...]. [21]

Wave nature

Flu pandemics typically come in waves. The 1889–1890 and the 1918-1919 flu pandemics each came in three or four waves of increasing lethality. [22] But within a wave, mortality was greater at the beginning of the wave. [23]


Variable mortality

Mortality varies widely in a pandemic. In the 1918 pandemic: 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ...

In U.S. Army camps where reasonably reliable statistics were kept, case mortality often exceeded 5 percent, and in some circumstances exceeded 10 percent. In the British Army in India, case mortality for white troops was 9.6 percent, for Indian troops 21.9 percent. In isolated human populations, the virus killed at even higher rates. In the Fiji islands, it killed 14 percent of the entire population in 16 days. In Labrador and Alaska, it killed at least one-third of the entire native population. [24]

Notable influenza pandemics

Latest flu pandemics [25]
Name of pandemic Date Deaths Subtype involved
Asiatic (Russian) Flu 1889-90 1 million possibly H2N2
Spanish Flu 1918-20 40 million H1N1
Asian Flu 1957-58 1 to 1.5 million H2N2
Hong Kong Flu 1968-69 0.75 to 1 million H3N2

An influenza pandemic is a large scale epidemic of the influenza virus, such as the 1918 Spanish flu. ... The Asian Flu was a pandemic outbreak of influenza that originated in China in 1957 and spread worldwide that same year. ... The 1918 flu pandemic (commonly referred to as the Spanish flu) was a category 5 influenza pandemic caused by an unusually severe and deadly Influenza A virus strain of subtype H1N1. ... H1N1 is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus (sometimes called bird flu virus). ... The Avian Flu was a pandemic outbreak of influenza that originated in China in 1957 and spread worldwide that same year. ... The Asian Flu was a pandemic outbreak of influenza that originated in China in 1957 and spread worldwide that same year. ... The Hong Kong Flu was a pandemic outbreak of influenza that began in Hong Kong in 1968 and spread to the United States of America that year. ... H3N2 is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus (sometimes called bird flu virus). ...

Spanish Flu (1918–1920)

Main article: Spanish flu

The 1918 flu pandemic, commonly referred to as the Spanish flu, was a category 5 influenza pandemic caused by an unusually severe and deadly Influenza A virus strain of subtype H1N1. Many of its victims were healthy young adults, in contrast to most influenza outbreaks which predominantly affect juvenile, elderly, or otherwise weakened patients. The 1918 flu pandemic (commonly referred to as the Spanish flu) was a category 5 influenza pandemic caused by an unusually severe and deadly Influenza A virus strain of subtype H1N1. ... The Pandemic Severity Index (PSI) is a scale or index created in January 2007 by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) designed to mimic the system for indexing the severity of hurricanes (which is the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale for tropical cyclones). ... Influenza A virus, the virus that causes Avian flu. ... In biology, Strain can be used two ways. ... H1N1 is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus (sometimes called bird flu virus). ...

The difference between the influenza mortality age-distributions of the 1918 epidemic and normal epidemics. Deaths per 100,000 persons in each age group, United States, for the interpandemic years 1911–1917 (dashed line) and the pandemic year 1918 (solid line).
The difference between the influenza mortality age-distributions of the 1918 epidemic and normal epidemics. Deaths per 100,000 persons in each age group, United States, for the interpandemic years 1911–1917 (dashed line) and the pandemic year 1918 (solid line).[26]

The Spanish flu pandemic lasted from 1918 to 1919. Older estimates say it killed 40–50 million people[27] while current estimates say 50 million to 100 million people worldwide were killed.[28] This pandemic has been described as "the greatest medical holocaust in history" and may have killed as many people as the Black Death.[29] This huge death toll was caused by an extremely high infection rate of up to 50% and the extreme severity of the symptoms, suspected to be caused by cytokine storms.[27] Indeed, symptoms in 1918 were so unusual that initially influenza was misdiagnosed as dengue, cholera, or typhoid. One observer wrote, "One of the most striking of the complications was hemorrhage from mucous membranes, especially from the nose, stomach, and intestine. Bleeding from the ears and petechial hemorrhages in the skin also occurred."[28] The majority of deaths were from bacterial pneumonia, a secondary infection caused by influenza, but the virus also killed people directly, causing massive hemorrhages and edema in the lung.[26] Image File history File links W_curve. ... Image File history File links W_curve. ... The 1918 flu pandemic (commonly referred to as the Spanish flu) was a category 5 influenza pandemic caused by an unusually severe and deadly Influenza A virus strain of subtype H1N1. ... This article concerns the mid fourteenth century pandemic. ... A cytokine storm is a potentially fatal immune reaction consisting of a positive feedback loop between cytokines and immune cells. ... Cholera (or Asiatic cholera or epidemic cholera) is an extreme diarrheal disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. ... minor Petechia A petechia (IPA pronunciation: ), plural petechiae (IPA pronunciation: ) is a small red or purple spot on the body, caused by a minor hemorrhage (broken capillary blood vessels). ... Bacterial pneumonia is an infection of the lungs by bacteria. ... A secondary infection is an infection by a microorganism subsequent to and simultaneous with an infection by a different microorganism. ... For other uses, see Bleeding (disambiguation). ... This page is about the condition called edema. ...


The Spanish flu pandemic was truly global, spreading even to the Arctic and remote Pacific islands. The unusually severe disease killed between 2 and 20% of those infected, as opposed to the more usual flu epidemic mortality rate of 0.1%.[26][28] Another unusual feature of this pandemic was that it mostly killed young adults, with 99% of pandemic influenza deaths occurring in people under 65, and more than half in young adults 20 to 40 years old.[30] This is unusual since influenza is normally most deadly to the very young (under age 2) and the very old (over age 70). The total mortality of the 1918–1919 pandemic is not known, but it is estimated that 2.5% to 5% of the world's population was killed. As many as 25 million may have been killed in the first 25 weeks; in contrast, HIV/AIDS has killed 25 million in its first 25 years.[28] The red line indicates the 10°C isotherm in July, commonly used to define the Arctic region border Artificially coloured topographical map of the Arctic region The Arctic is the region around the Earths North Pole, opposite the Antarctic region around the South Pole. ... Crude death rate by country Mortality rate is a measure of the number of deaths (in general, or due to a specific cause) in some population, scaled to the size of that population, per unit time. ... For other uses, see AIDS (disambiguation). ...


Asian Flu (1957–1958)

Main article: H2N2

The "Asian Flu" was a category 2 flu pandemic outbreak of avian influenza that originated in China in early 1956 lasting until 1958. It originated from mutation in wild ducks combining with a pre-existing human strain.[31] The virus was first identified in Guizhou.[32] It spread to Singapore in February 1957, reached Hong Kong by April, and US by June. Death toll in the US was approximately 69,800.[31] Estimates of worldwide infection rate varies widely depending on source, ranging from 1 million to 4 million. The Asian Flu was a pandemic outbreak of influenza that originated in China in 1957 and spread worldwide that same year. ... The Pandemic Severity Index (PSI) is a scale or index created in January 2007 by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) designed to mimic the system for indexing the severity of hurricanes (which is the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale for tropical cyclones). ... An influenza pandemic is a large scale epidemic of the influenza virus, such as the 1918 Spanish flu. ... For the H5N1 subtype of Avian influenza see H5N1. ... A car from 1956 Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jan. ... Binomial name Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 Subspecies (Common Mallard) (Greenland Mallard) (Mexican Duck) The Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos (litt: flat billed duck[1])), also known in North America as the Wild Duck, is a common and widespread dabbling duck which breeds throughout the temperate and sub-tropical areas of North America... (Simplified Chinese: 贵州; Traditional Chinese: 貴州; pinyin: Gùizhōu; Wade-Giles: Kuei-chou; also spelled Kweichow) is a province of the Peoples Republic of China located in the southwestern part of the country. ... For other uses of terms redirecting here, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation) Motto In God We Trust(since 1956) (From Many, One; Latin, traditional) Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City National language English (de facto)1 Demonym American...


Hong Kong Flu (1968–1969)

Main article: H3N2

The Hong Kong Flu was a category 2 flu pandemic caused by a strain of H3N2 descended from H2N2 by antigenic shift, in which genes from multiple subtypes reassorted to form a new virus. The Hong Kong Flu pandemic of 1968 and 1969 infected an estimate 500,000 with a low death rate[33][34]. In the US, 50 million were infected with an estimated 33,000 deaths[35]. H3N2 is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus (sometimes called bird flu virus). ... The Pandemic Severity Index (PSI) is a scale or index created in January 2007 by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) designed to mimic the system for indexing the severity of hurricanes (which is the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale for tropical cyclones). ... An influenza pandemic is a large scale epidemic of the influenza virus, such as the 1918 Spanish flu. ... The Asian Flu was a pandemic outbreak of influenza that originated in China in 1957 and spread worldwide that same year. ... Antigenic shift is the process by which two different strains of influenza combine to form a new subtype having a mixture of the surface antigens of the two original strains. ... Year 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1969 (number) 1969 (movie) 1969 (Stargate SG-1) episode. ...


H5N1

H5N1
Main article: H5N1

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1, also known as A(H5N1) or simply H5N1, is a subtype of the Influenza A virus which can cause illness in humans and many other animal species.[36] A bird-adapted strain of H5N1, called HPAI A(H5N1) for "highly pathogenic avian influenza virus of type A of subtype H5N1", is the causative agent of H5N1 flu, commonly known as "avian influenza" or "bird flu". It is endemic in many bird populations, especially in Southeast Asia. One strain of HPAI A(H5N1) is spreading globally after first appearing in Asia. It is epizootic (an epidemic in nonhumans) and panzootic (affecting animals of many species, especially over a wide area), killing tens of millions of birds and spurring the culling of hundreds of millions of others to stem its spread. Most mentions of "bird flu" and H5N1 in the media refer to this strain.[37] Image File history File links Colorized_transmission_electron_micrograph_of_Avian_influenza_A_H5N1_viruses. ... Genera Influenzavirus A Influenzavirus B Influenzavirus C Isavirus Thogotovirus Influenzavirus A is a genus of the family of viruses called Orthomyxoviridae in virus classification. ... Influenza A virus subtype H5N1, also known as A(H5N1) or simply H5N1, is a subtype of the Influenza A virus which can cause illness in humans and many other animal species. ... H5N1 genetic structure refers to the molecular structure of the H5N1 viruss RNA. H5N1 is an Influenza A virus subtype. ... See Epidemiology of WHO-confirmed human cases of avian influenza A(H5N1) infection. ... The thin line represents average mortality of recent cases. ... The global spread of H5N1 in birds is considered a significant pandemic threat. ... Main article: Global spread of H5N1 Notes: Source WHO Confirmed Human Cases of H5N1 [T]he incidence of human cases peaked, in each of the three years in which cases have occurred, during the period roughly corresponding to winter and spring in the northern hemisphere. ... See Influenza pandemic for government preparation for an H5N1 pandemic H5N1 impact is the effect or influence of H5N1 in human society; especially the financial, political, social and personal responses to both actual and predicted deaths in birds, humans, and other animals. ... Influenza A virus subtype H5N1, also known as A(H5N1) or simply H5N1, is a subtype of the Influenza A virus which can cause illness in humans and many other animal species. ... Genera Influenzavirus A Influenzavirus B Influenzavirus C Isavirus Thogotovirus Influenzavirus A is a genus of the family of viruses called Orthomyxoviridae in virus classification. ... A pathogen or infectious agent is a biological agent that causes disease or illness to its host. ... See Epidemiology of WHO-confirmed human cases of avian influenza A(H5N1) infection. ... For the H5N1 subtype of Avian influenza see H5N1. ... In epidemiology, an infection is said to be endemic in a population when that infection is maintained in the population without the need for external inputs. ... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ... The global spread of H5N1 in birds is considered a significant pandemic threat. ... An epizootic is the nonhuman equivalent of an epidemic, meaning that large numbers of animals are infected with a disease. ... To cull is to remove from a group of animals those individuals who show signs of weakness. ...


HPAI A(H5N1) is an avian disease. There is no evidence of efficient human-to-human transmission or of airborne transmission of HPAI A(H5N1) to humans. In almost all cases, those infected with H5N1 had extensive physical contact with infected birds. Still, around 60% of humans known to have been infected with the current Asian strain of HPAI A(H5N1) have died from it, and H5N1 may mutate or reassort into a strain capable of efficient human-to-human transmission.[38][39][40][41][42][43][44] Bacteria and viruses showing the ability to be transmitted through aerosols are considered to be airborne. ... For linguistic mutation, see Apophony. ... Reassortment is the exchange of DNA between viruses inside a host cell. ...


In 2003, world-renowned virologist Robert Webster published an article titled "The world is teetering on the edge of a pandemic that could kill a large fraction of the human population" in American Scientist. He called for adequate resources to fight what he sees as a major world threat to possibly billions of lives.[45] On September 29, 2005, David Nabarro, the newly-appointed Senior United Nations System Coordinator for Avian and Human Influenza, warned the world that an outbreak of avian influenza could kill anywhere between 5 million and 150 million people.[46] Experts have identified key events (creating new clades, infecting new species, spreading to new areas) marking the progression of an avian flu virus towards becoming pandemic, and many of those key events have occurred more rapidly than expected. Robert G. (Rob) Webster (born May 7, 1932), in Balclutha New Zealand, is the virologist who in 1957 was the first to announce a link between human flu and bird flu. ... American Scientist (ISSN 0003-0996) is an illustrated bimonthly magazine about science and technology. ... is the 272nd day of the year (273rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Dr. David Nabarro (born in 1949),is the current Executive Director of Sustainable Development and Healthy Environments, a department under the World Health Organization. ... A clade is a term belonging to the discipline of cladistics. ...


Due to the high lethality and virulence of HPAI A(H5N1), its endemic presence, its increasingly large host reservoir, and its significant ongoing mutations, the H5N1 virus is the world's largest current pandemic threat, and billions of dollars are being spent researching H5N1 and preparing for a potential influenza pandemic.[47] At least 12 companies and 17 governments are developing pre-pandemic influenza vaccines in 28 different clinical trials that, if successful, could turn a deadly pandemic infection into a nondeadly one. Full-scale production of a vaccine that could prevent any illness at all from the strain would require at least three months after the virus's emergence to begin, but it is hoped that vaccine production could increase until one billion doses were produced by one year after the initial identification of the virus.[48] Virulence refers to the degree of pathogenicity of a microbe, or in other words the relative ability of a microbe to cause disease. ... Model of Influenza Virus from NIH The flu vaccine is a vaccine to protect against the highly variable influenza virus. ...


H5N1 may cause more than one influenza pandemic as it is expected to continue mutating in birds regardless of whether humans develop herd immunity to a future pandemic strain.[49] Influenza pandemics from its genetic offspring may include influenza A virus subtypes other than H5N1.[50] While genetic analysis of the H5N1 virus shows that influenza pandemics from its genetic offspring can easily be far more lethal than the Spanish Flu pandemic[51], planning for a future influenza pandemic is based on what can be done and there is no higher Pandemic Severity Index level than a Category 5 pandemic which, roughly speaking, is any pandemic as bad the Spanish flu or worse; and for which all intervention measures are to be used.[52] …Herd immunity describes a type of immunity that occurs when the vaccination of the a portion of the population (or herd) provides protection to un-vaccinated individuals. ... Genera Influenzavirus A Influenzavirus B Influenzavirus C Isavirus Thogotovirus Influenzavirus A is a genus of the family of viruses called Orthomyxoviridae in virus classification. ... The 1918 flu pandemic (commonly referred to as the Spanish flu) was a category 5 influenza pandemic caused by an unusually severe and deadly Influenza A virus strain of subtype H1N1. ... The Pandemic Severity Index (PSI) is a scale or index created in January 2007 by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) designed to mimic the system for indexing the severity of hurricanes (which is the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale for tropical cyclones). ...


To have a flu pandemic several distinct phases must happen. H5N1's next phase is easy person to person transmission. After that occurs, it is theoretically possible to stop it before it becomes an epidemic, or if that opportunity is missed, to stop the epidemic before it becomes a pandemic. It is widely believed by the experts that it will not be possible to prevent any of these phases from occurring with H5N1, but if we are lucky enough to delay it for a few years, we might come up with a solution such as a influenza vaccine. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1, also known as A(H5N1) or simply H5N1, is a subtype of the Influenza A virus which can cause illness in humans and many other animal species. ... Influenza A virus subtype H5N1, also known as A(H5N1) or simply H5N1, is a subtype of the Influenza A virus which can cause illness in humans and many other animal species. ... Model of Influenza Virus from NIH The flu vaccine is a vaccine to protect against the highly variable influenza virus. ...


H5N1 is just one of the many subtypes of the species Influenza A virus. Any one of them can combine with each other or with different variant genotypes within its own subtype creating new variants, any one of which could become a pandemic strain. We know enough about the genetics to know what strains to fear most (example: only H5 and H7 subtypes are "highly pathogenic") and we know what genetic factors make a flu virus a human virus (i.e. easily passed human to human); so we know H5N1 is the biggest pandemic threat of all the strains in circulation and we know it is only a few antigenic shift mutations or antigenic drift mutations from being an avian influenza virus to being a human flu virus. If it does this it may or may not still be in the H5N1 subtype. Both the drift and the shift can happen in any infected animal and then be passed to a human and spread like wildfire. Possible shift scenarios include the shift occurring in humans, pigs, or cats. To acquire the needed mutation through drift, it simply has to continue being an epidemic in birds long enough for the mutations to occur and then be passed to a human. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1, also known as A(H5N1) or simply H5N1, is a subtype of the Influenza A virus which can cause illness in humans and many other animal species. ... Influenza A virus, the virus that causes Avian flu. ... Antigenic shift is the process by which two different strains of influenza combine to form a new subtype having a mixture of the surface antigens of the two original strains. ... Antigenic drift refers to mutations in the influenza virus over time. ... For the H5N1 subtype of Avian influenza see H5N1. ... Human Flu refers to a subset of Orthomyxoviridae that create influenza in humans and are endemic in humans. ...


Other pandemic threat subtypes

"Human influenza virus" usually refers to those subtypes that spread widely among humans. H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2 are the only known Influenza A virus subtypes currently circulating among humans. [53] H1N1 is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus (sometimes called bird flu virus). ... H1N2 is a subtype of the species avian influenza virus (bird flu virus) currently endemic in both human and pig populations. ... H3N2 is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus (sometimes called bird flu virus). ...


Genetic factors in distinguishing between "human flu viruses" and "avian influenza viruses" include: Human Flu refers to a subset of Orthomyxoviridae that create influenza in humans and are endemic in humans. ... For the H5N1 subtype of Avian influenza see H5N1. ...

PB2: (RNA polymerase): Amino acid (or residue) position 627 in the PB2 protein encoded by the PB2 RNA gene. Until H5N1, all known avian influenza viruses had a Glu at position 627, while all human influenza viruses had a lysine.
HA: (hemagglutinin): Avian influenza HA bind alpha 2-3 sialic acid receptors while human influenza HA bind alpha 2-6 sialic acid receptors. Swine influenza viruses have the ability to bind both types of sialic acid receptors.

"About 52 key genetic changes distinguish avian influenza strains from those that spread easily among people, according to researchers in Taiwan, who analyzed the genes of more than 400 A type flu viruses."[54] "How many mutations would make an avian virus capable of infecting humans efficiently, or how many mutations would render an influenza virus a pandemic strain, is difficult to predict. We have examined sequences from the 1918 strain, which is the only pandemic influenza virus that could be entirely derived from avian strains. Of the 52 species-associated positions, 16 have residues typical for human strains; the others remained as avian signatures. The result supports the hypothesis that the 1918 pandemic virus is more closely related to the avian influenza A virus than are other human influenza viruses."[55] This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the class of chemicals. ... A residue, broadly, is anything left behind by a reaction or event. ... Left: An RNA strand, with its nitrogenous bases. ... Influenza A virus subtype H5N1, also known as A(H5N1) or simply H5N1, is a subtype of the Influenza A virus which can cause illness in humans and many other animal species. ... Glutamic acid (Glu, E), is the protonated form of glutamate (the anion). ... Lysine is one of the 20 amino acids normally found in proteins. ... Hemagglutinin, as depicted in a simplified molecular model. ... Sialic acid is a generic term for the N- or O-substituted derivatives of neuraminic acid, a nine-carbon monosaccharide. ...


Human flu symptoms usually include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, conjunctivitis and, in severe cases, severe breathing problems and pneumonia that may be fatal. The severity of the infection will depend to a large part on the state of the infected person's immune system and if the victim has been exposed to the strain before, and is therefore partially immune. Human Flu refers to a subset of Orthomyxoviridae that create influenza in humans and are endemic in humans. ... An analogue medical thermometer showing the temperature of 38. ... Sore Throat were a British noisegrind band, credited with contributing to the creation of that genre. ... Myalgia means muscle pain and is a symptom of many diseases and disorders. ... This article is about human pneumonia. ... A scanning electron microscope image of a single neutrophil (yellow), engulfing anthrax bacteria (orange). ...


Highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in a human is far worse, killing 50% of humans that catch it. In one case, a boy with H5N1 experienced diarrhea followed rapidly by a coma without developing respiratory or flu-like symptoms. [56] Influenza A virus subtype H5N1, also known as A(H5N1) or simply H5N1, is a subtype of the Influenza A virus which can cause illness in humans and many other animal species. ... For the H5N1 subtype of Avian influenza see H5N1. ... Diarrhea, also spelled diarrhoea (see spelling differences), is a condition in which the sufferer has frequent watery, loose bowel movements (from the Greek word διάρροια; literally meaning through-flowing). Acute infectious diarrhea is a common cause of death in developing countries (particularly among infants), accounting for 5 to 8 million deaths... For other uses, see Coma (disambiguation). ...


The Influenza A virus subtypes that have been confirmed in humans, ordered by the number of known human pandemic deaths, are: Human beings are defined variously in biological, spiritual, and cultural terms, or in combinations thereof. ...

H1N1
Main article: H1N1
H1N1 is currently endemic in both human and pig populations. A variant of H1N1 was responsible for the Spanish flu pandemic that killed some 50 million to 100 million people worldwide over about a year in 1918 and 1919. [57] Controversy arose in October, 2005, after the H1N1 genome was published in the journal, Science. Many fear that this information could be used for bioterrorism.
"When he compared the 1918 virus with today's human flu viruses, Dr. Taubenberger noticed that it had alterations in just 25 to 30 of the virus's 4,400 amino acids. Those few changes turned a bird virus into a killer that could spread from person to person." [58]
H2N2
Main article: H2N2
The Asian Flu was a pandemic outbreak of H2N2 avian influenza that originated in China in 1957, spread worldwide that same year during which a influenza vaccine was developed, lasted until 1958 and caused between one and four million deaths.
H3N2
Main article: H3N2
H3N2 is currently endemic in both human and pig populations. It evolved from H2N2 by antigenic shift and caused the Hong Kong Flu pandemic of 1968 and 1969 that killed up to 750,000. [59] "An early-onset, severe form of influenza A H3N2 made headlines when it claimed the lives of several children in the United States in late 2003." [60]
The dominant strain of annual flu in January 2006 is H3N2. Measured resistance to the standard antiviral drugs amantadine and rimantadine in H3N2 has increased from 1% in 1994 to 12% in 2003 to 91% in 2005. [61]
"[C]ontemporary human H3N2 influenza viruses are now endemic in pigs in southern China and can reassort with avian H5N1 viruses in this intermediate host." [62]
H7N7
Main article: H7N7
H7N7 has unusual zoonotic potential. In 2003 in Netherlands 89 people were confirmed to have H7N7 influenza virus infection following an outbreak in poultry on several farms. One death was recorded.
H1N2
Main article: H1N2
H1N2 is currently endemic in both human and pig populations. The new H1N2 strain appears to have resulted from the reassortment of the genes of the currently circulating influenza H1N1 and H3N2 subtypes. The hemagglutinin protein of the H1N2 virus is similar to that of the currently circulating H1N1 viruses and the neuraminidase protein is similar to that of the current H3N2 viruses.

H1N1 is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus (sometimes called bird flu virus). ... The 1918 flu pandemic (commonly referred to as the Spanish flu) was a category 5 influenza pandemic caused by an unusually severe and deadly Influenza A virus strain of subtype H1N1. ... The Asian Flu was a pandemic outbreak of influenza that originated in China in 1957 and spread worldwide that same year. ... H3N2 is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus (sometimes called bird flu virus). ... Influenza A virus subtype H5N1, also known as A(H5N1) or simply H5N1, is a subtype of the Influenza A virus which can cause illness in humans and many other animal species. ... H7N7 is a subtype of the species avian influenza virus (bird flu virus). ... Zoonosis is any infectious disease that can be transmitted from animals, both wild and domestic, to humans. ... H1N2 is a subtype of the species avian influenza virus (bird flu virus) currently endemic in both human and pig populations. ... H9N2 is a subtype of the species avian influenza virus (bird flu virus). ... H7N2 is a subtype of the species avian influenza virus (bird flu virus). ... H7N3 is a subtype of the species avian influenza virus (bird flu virus). ... H10N7 is a subtype of the species avian influenza virus (bird flu virus). ... H1N1 is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus (sometimes called bird flu virus). ... H1N1 is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus (sometimes called bird flu virus). ... H1N1 is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus (sometimes called bird flu virus). ... The 1918 flu pandemic (commonly referred to as the Spanish flu) was a category 5 influenza pandemic caused by an unusually severe and deadly Influenza A virus strain of subtype H1N1. ... This article is about large epidemics. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... Year 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... In biology the genome of an organism is the whole hereditary information of an organism that is encoded in the DNA (or, for some viruses, RNA). ... Science is the journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). ... For the use of biological agents in warfare, see Biological warfare. ... The 1918 flu pandemic (commonly referred to as the Spanish flu) was a category 5 influenza pandemic caused by an unusually severe and deadly Influenza A virus strain of subtype H1N1. ... The Asian Flu was a pandemic outbreak of influenza that originated in China in 1957 and spread worldwide that same year. ... The Avian Flu was a pandemic outbreak of influenza that originated in China in 1957 and spread worldwide that same year. ... This article is about large epidemics. ... The Asian Flu was a pandemic outbreak of influenza that originated in China in 1957 and spread worldwide that same year. ... Year 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar). ... Model of Influenza Virus from NIH The flu vaccine is a vaccine to protect against the highly variable influenza virus. ... Jan. ... H3N2 is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus (sometimes called bird flu virus). ... H3N2 is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus (sometimes called bird flu virus). ... The Asian Flu was a pandemic outbreak of influenza that originated in China in 1957 and spread worldwide that same year. ... Antigenic shift is the process by which two different strains of influenza combine to form a new subtype having a mixture of the surface antigens of the two original strains. ... The Hong Kong Flu was a pandemic outbreak of influenza that began in Hong Kong in 1968 and spread to the United States of America that year. ... H3N2 is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus (sometimes called bird flu virus). ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 2006 : ← - January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December- → Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accuses European nations of trying to complete the Holocaust by creating a Jewish camp Israel in the Middle East. ... H3N2 is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus (sometimes called bird flu virus). ... Amantadine, 1-aminoadamantane, is an antiviral drug that was approved by the FDA in 1976 for the treatment of influenza type A in adults. ... Rimantadine (systematic name 1-(1-aminoethyl)adamantane) is an orally administered medicine used to treat, and in rare cases prevent, Influenzavirus A infection. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... H3N2 is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus (sometimes called bird flu virus). ... Influenza A virus subtype H5N1, also known as A(H5N1) or simply H5N1, is a subtype of the Influenza A virus which can cause illness in humans and many other animal species. ... H7N7 is a subtype of the species avian influenza virus (bird flu virus). ... H7N7 is a subtype of the species avian influenza virus (bird flu virus). ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... H1N2 is a subtype of the species avian influenza virus (bird flu virus) currently endemic in both human and pig populations. ... H1N2 is a subtype of the species avian influenza virus (bird flu virus) currently endemic in both human and pig populations. ... H1N2 is a subtype of the species avian influenza virus (bird flu virus) currently endemic in both human and pig populations. ... H1N1 is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus (sometimes called bird flu virus). ... H3N2 is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus (sometimes called bird flu virus). ... Hemagglutinin, as depicted in a simplified molecular model. ... H1N2 is a subtype of the species avian influenza virus (bird flu virus) currently endemic in both human and pig populations. ... H1N1 is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus (sometimes called bird flu virus). ... Neuraminidase is a glycoside hydrolase enzyme (EC 3. ... H3N2 is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus (sometimes called bird flu virus). ...

Strategies to prevent a flu pandemic

This section contains strategies to prevent a flu pandemic by a Council on Foreign Relations panel consisting of:

  • James F. Hoge, who is Peter G. Peterson chair, editor, Foreign Affairs
  • Nancy E. Roman, who is vice president and director, Washington Program, Council on Foreign Relations
  • Rita Colwell, who is chair, Royal Institution World Science Assembly's Pandemic Preparedness Project
  • Anthony Fauci, who is director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institute of Health
  • Laurie Garrett, who is the senior fellow for global health, Council on Foreign Relations
  • Michael Osterholm, who is director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, University of Minnesota; also, associate director, National Center for Food Protection and Defense, Department of Homeland Defense; also a professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.[63]

If influenza remains an animal problem with limited human-to-human transmission it is not a pandemic, though it continues to pose a risk. To prevent the situation from progressing to a pandemic, the following short-term strategies have been put forward:

  • Culling and vaccinating livestock
  • Vaccinating poultry workers against common flu
  • Limiting travel in areas where the virus is found[63]

The rationale for vaccinating poultry workers against common flu is that it reduces the probability of common influenza virus recombining with avian H5N1 virus to form a pandemic strain. Longer term strategies proposed for regions where highly pathogenic H5N1 is endemic in wild birds have included: A vial of the vaccine against influenza. ...

  • changing local farming practices to increase farm hygiene and reduce contact between livestock and wild birds.
  • altering farming practices in regions where animals live in close, often unsanitary quarters with people, and changing the practices of open-air "wet markets" where birds. A challenge to implementing these measures is widespread poverty, frequently in rural areas, coupled with a reliance upon raising fowl for purposes of subsistence farming or income without measures to prevent propagation of the disease.
  • changing local shopping practices from purchase of live fowl to purchase of slaughtered, pre-packaged fowl.
  • improving veterinary vaccine availability and cost.[63]

Farming, ploughing rice paddy, in Indonesia Agriculture is the process of producing food, feed, fiber and other desired products by cultivation of certain plants and the raising of domesticated animals (livestock). ... Sheep are commonly bred as livestock. ... A live animal market, a common sight in many areas of the world and a source of influenza viruses and other infectious disease agents for human beings. ... Like most farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa, this Cameroonian man cultivates at the subsistence level. ... A vaccine is an antigenic preparation used to establish immunity to a disease. ...

Strategies to slow down a flu pandemic

See also: Flu research

Flu research includes molecular virology, pathogenesis, host immune responses, and epidemiology. ...

Vaccines

A vaccine probably would not be available in the initial stages of population infection [64]. Once a potential virus is identified, it normally takes at least several months before a vaccine becomes widely available, as it must be developed, tested and authorized. The capability to produce vaccines varies widely from country to country; in fact, only 19 countries are listed as "Influenza vaccine manufacturers" according to the World Health Organization.[65] It is estimated that, in a best scenario situation, 750 million doses could be produced each year, whereas it is likely that each individual would need two doses of the vaccine in order to become immuno-competent. Distribution to and inside countries would probably be problematic.[66] Several countries, however, have well-developed plans for producing large quantities of vaccine. For example, Canadian health authorities say that they are developing the capacity to produce 32 million doses within four months, enough vaccine to inoculate every person in the country.[67] A vaccine is an antigenic preparation used to establish immunity to a disease. ...


There are two serious technical problems associated with the development of a vaccine against H5N1. The first problem is this: seasonal influenza vaccines require a single injection of 15 μg haemagluttinin in order to give protection; H5 seems to evoke only a weak immune response and a large multicentre trial found that two injections of 90 µg H5 given 28 days apart provided protection in only 54% of people (Treanor 2006). Even if it is considered that 54% is an acceptable level of protection, the world is currently capable of producing only 900 million doses at a strength of 15 μg (assuming that all production were immediately converted to manufacturing H5 vaccine); if two injections of 90 μg are needed then this capacity drops to only 70 million (Poland 2006). Trials using adjuvants such as alum or MF59 to try and lower the dose of vaccine are urgently needed. The second problem is this: there are two circulating clades of virus, clade 1 is the virus originally isolated in Vietnam, clade 2 is the virus isolated in Indonesia. Current vaccine research is focussed on clade 1 viruses, but the clade 2 virus is antigenically distinct and a clade 1 vaccine will probably not protect against a pandemic caused by clade 2 virus. In medicine, adjuvants are agents which modify the effect of other agents while having few if any direct effects when given by themselves. ... A crystal of alum Alum, (IPA: ) (aluminium potassium sulfate,) in chemistry, is a term given to the crystallized double sulfates of the typical formula M+2SO4·M3+2(SO4)3·12H2O, where M+ is the sign of an alkali metal (or generally monovalent cation) (lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, or caesium... A clade is a term belonging to the discipline of cladistics. ...


Anti-viral drugs

Many nations, as well as the World Health Organization, are working to stockpile anti-viral drugs in preparation for a possible pandemic. Oseltamivir (trade name Tamiflu) is the most commonly sought drug, since it is available in pill form. Zanamivir (trade name Relenza) is also considered for use, but it must be inhaled. Other anti-viral drugs are less likely to be effective against pandemic influenza. Antiviral drugs are a class of medication used specifically for treating viral infections. ... Oseltamivir (INN) (IPA: ) is an antiviral drug that is used in the treatment and prophylaxis of both Influenzavirus A and Influenzavirus B. Like zanamivir, oseltamivir is a neuraminidase inhibitor. ... Zanamivir is a neuraminidase inhibitor used in the treatment of and prophylaxis of both influenza A and influenza B. Zanamivir was the first neuraminidase inhibitor commercially developed. ...


Both Tamiflu and Relenza are in short supply, and production capabilities are limited in the medium term. Some doctors say that co-administration of Tamiflu with probenecid could double supplies [68]. Probenecid is a uricosuric drug, primarily used in treating gout or hyperuricemia, that increases uric acid removal in the urine. ...


There also is the potential of viruses to evolve drug resistance. Some H5N1-infected persons treated with oseltamivir have developed resistant strains of that virus.


Tamiflu was originally discovered by Gilead Sciences and licensed to Roche for late-phase development and marketing. Gilead Sciences NASDAQ: GILD is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes therapeutics to advance the care of patients suffering from life-threatening diseases, principally HIV, hepatitis B and influenza. ...


Donald Rumsfeld, a shareholder in Gilead Sciences, has profited from the US government stockpiling of oseltamivir in case of an influenza pandemic.[69] Critics have used this fact to question both government stockpiling policies and the H5N1 potential pandemic itself. Donald Henry Rumsfeld (born July 9, 1932) is a businessman, a U.S. Republican politician, the 13th Secretary of Defense under President Gerald Ford from 1975 to 1977, and the 21st Secretary of Defense under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2006. ... Gilead Sciences NASDAQ: GILD is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes therapeutics to advance the care of patients suffering from life-threatening diseases, principally HIV, hepatitis B and influenza. ... Oseltamivir (INN) (IPA: ) is an antiviral drug that is used in the treatment and prophylaxis of both Influenzavirus A and Influenzavirus B. Like zanamivir, oseltamivir is a neuraminidase inhibitor. ... Influenza A virus subtype H5N1, also known as A(H5N1) or simply H5N1, is a subtype of the Influenza A virus which can cause illness in humans and many other animal species. ...


Global response

  • the establishment and maintenance of high standards of poultry biosecurity
  • national veterinary services upgraded to OIE standards
  • early detection of H5N1
    • early warning system
    • adequate surveillance
    • rapid reporting
    • data-sharing systems
      • web-based
      • facilitate integrated responses and risk management
      • report associated meta-data that allow full analysis of the results
      • facilitate timely and effective risk management
  • standardization of national-level reporting
  • transparent, structured and science-based risk assessments
  • better HPAI field surveillance worldwide
  • better veterinary services worldwide
  • improved, contemporary and international analysis of existing waterbird ringing and count data at the species level and also in months other than January
  • better consolidated information on national trade in poultry and poultry products
  • rapid reporting and control measures
  • data collection on trade issues
  • the development of compensation policies for agricultural losses and impacts on protected areas
  • effective communication with the media
  • the public and policy makers using scientific facts
  • additional research on:
    • the prevalence of H5N1 in wild bird populations
    • existing ringing data to assess migratory systems
    • the ecology of the virus in the environment
    • natural mortality levels in wild bird populations
    • wild bird susceptibility to H5N1
    • effective measures to reduce transmission of H5N1 between wild birds and poultry
  • build programmes of sustainable financial measures
  • support to ensure the sustainability of short-term measures
  • development of mechanisms to restructure agricultural production systems with the goal of reducing stresses on ecosystems and risks to human health
  • better information on cultural practices that have the potential to either help or hinder the control of H5N1.
  • develop and maintain collaborative approaches and partnerships that integrate wetland and wildlife management expertise with expertise on human health and zoonoses
  • better integration of existing data on trade in poultry and other birds and the establishment of a web-based clearing-house mechanism on the spread of H5N1.

Source:SCIENTIFIC SEMINAR ON AVIAN INFLUENZA, THE ENVIRONMENT AND MIGRATORY BIRDS ON 10-11 APRIL 2006 published 14 April 2006.[70]


Individual response

(The World Health Organization published a compendium of non-pharmaceutical interventions in November 2005. The following list is not identical to the WHO recommendations.)[71] WHO redirects here. ...

  • Social distance. By travelling less, working from home or closing schools there is less opportunity for the virus to spread.
  • Respiratory hygiene. Populations should be repeatedly informed of the need for "respiratory hygiene" (covering mouth when coughing or sneezing, careful disposal of soiled tissues or other materials).
  • Masks. No mask can provide a perfect barrier but products that meet or exceed the NIOSH N95 standard recommended by the World Health Organization are thought to provide good protection. WHO recommends that health-care workers wear N95 masks and that patients wear surgical masks (which may prevent respiratory secretions from becoming airborne).[71] Any mask may be useful to remind the wearer not to touch his face. This can reduce infection due to contact with contaminated surfaces, especially in crowded public places where coughing or sneezing people have no way of washing their hands. The mask itself can become contaminated and must be handled as medical waste when removed.
  • Hygiene. Frequent handwashing, especially when there has been contact with other people or with potentially contaminated surfaces can be very helpful. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers also kill both bacteria and viruses.[72]

A surgical mask is designed to be worn by health professionals during surgery and at other times to catch the bacteria shed from the wearers mouth and nose. ... The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is the United States federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness. ... WHO redirects here. ... Look up who in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Phases of an influenza pandemic

The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a global influenza preparedness plan, which defines the stages of a pandemic, outlines WHO's role and makes recommendations for national measures before and during a pandemic. [73]


Investigations of small clusters of cases are currently ongoing in southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam, to rule out limited human-to-human spread (which would signify Phase 4). The phases are defined as: Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ...


Interpandemic period

  • Phase 1: Low risk No new influenza virus subtypes dangerous to humans detected in humans or animals.
  • Phase 2: New virus A new circulating animal influenza virus subtype poses a substantial risk of human disease but no new influenza virus subtypes have been detected in humans.

Pandemic alert period

  • Phase 3: Self limiting Human infection(s) with a new subtype, but no human-to-human spread, or at most rare instances of spread to a close contact. Even without human intervention it would be self limiting among humans.
  • Phase 4: Person to person: Small cluster(s) with limited human-to-human transmission but spread is highly localized, suggesting that the virus is not well adapted to humans. An epidemic is possible but has not yet happened.
  • Phase 5: Epidemic: Larger cluster(s) but human-to-human spread still localized, suggesting that the virus is becoming increasingly well adapted to humans, but may not yet be fully transmissible (substantial pandemic risk).

Pandemic period

  • Phase 6: Pandemic: increased and sustained transmission in general population.

Notes

The distinction between phase 1 and phase 2 is based on the risk of human infection or disease resulting from circulating strains in animals. The distinction is based on various factors and their relative importance according to current scientific knowledge. Factors may include pathogenicity in animals and humans, occurrence in domesticated animals and livestock or only in wildlife, whether the virus is enzootic or epizootic, geographically localized or widespread, and/or other scientific parameters.


The distinction between phase 3, phase 4 and phase 5 is based on an assessment of the risk of a pandemic. Various factors and their relative importance according to current scientific knowledge may be considered. Factors may include rate of transmission, geographical location and spread, severity of illness, presence of genes from human strains (if derived from an animal strain), and/or other scientific parameters.


CIDRAP provides a thoroughgoing overview, which has its roots in materials from the U.S. HHS National Vaccine Program Office. CIDRAP's overview originally set forth a model listing five numbered stages for the pandemic itself, preceded by four additional pre-pandemic stages, each numbered as zero, that overlapped the WHO's first five stages of a pandemic. CIDRAP's overview has since adopted the WHO's 6-stage model. [74]


Preparations for a potential influenza pandemic

According to The New York Times as of March 2006, "governments worldwide have spent billions planning for a potential influenza pandemic: buying medicines, running disaster drills, [and] developing strategies for tighter border controls" due to the H5N1 threat.[75] The New York Times is a daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed internationally. ... Influenza A virus subtype H5N1, also known as A(H5N1) or simply H5N1, is a subtype of the Influenza A virus which can cause illness in humans and many other animal species. ...


"[T]he United States is collaborating closely with eight international organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), and 88 foreign governments to address the situation through planning, greater monitoring, and full transparency in reporting and investigating avian influenza occurrences. The United States and these international partners have led global efforts to encourage countries to heighten surveillance for outbreaks in poultry and significant numbers of deaths in migratory birds and to rapidly introduce containment measures. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Departments of State, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Agriculture (USDA) are coordinating future international response measures on behalf of the White House with departments and agencies across the federal government."[76] Look up who in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Possible meanings: Faro Airport (Portugal) Federation of Astrobiology Organizations Financial Aid Office Food and Agriculture Organization This page expands a three-character combination which might be any or all of: an abbreviation, an acronym, an initialism, a word in English, or a word in another language. ... The Office International de Epizooties (OIE, World Organisation for Animal Health) is an international intergovernmental organisation founded in 1924. ... For the H5N1 subtype of Avian influenza see H5N1. ... The United States Agency for International Development (or USAID) is the US government organization responsible for most non-military foreign aid. ... The United States Department of State, often referred to as the State Department, is the Cabinet-level foreign affairs agency of the United States government, equivalent to foreign ministries in other countries. ... The United States Department of Health and Human Services, often abbreviated HHS, is a Cabinet department of the United States government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. ...


Together steps are being taken to "minimize the risk of further spread in animal populations", "reduce the risk of human infections", and "further support pandemic planning and preparedness".[76]


Ongoing detailed mutually coordinated onsite surveillance and analysis of human and animal H5N1 avian flu outbreaks are being conducted and reported by the USGS National Wildlife Health Center, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, the European Commission, the National Influenza Centers, and others.[77] Influenza A virus subtype H5N1, also known as A(H5N1) or simply H5N1, is a subtype of the Influenza A virus which can cause illness in humans and many other animal species. ... The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is a scientific agency of the United States government. ... The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, is recognized as the leading United States agency for protecting the public health and safety of people. ... WHO redirects here. ... Berlaymont, the Commissions seat The European Commission (formally the Commission of the European Communities) is the executive branch of the European Union. ... National Influenza Centers (also called National Influenza Centres) are institutions which are formally recognized as such by WHO. Among the more than 110 National Influenza Centers are the WHO collaborating centres and reference laboratories that are involved in annual influenza vaccine composition recommendations. ...


United Nations

In September 2005, David Nabarro, a lead UN health official warned that a bird flu outbreak could happen anytime and had the potential to kill 5-150 million people.[78] Dr. David Nabarro (born in 1949),is the current Executive Director of Sustainable Development and Healthy Environments, a department under the World Health Organization. ...


United States

"[E]fforts by the federal government to prepare for pandemic influenza at the national level include a $100 million DHHS initiative in 2003 to build U.S. vaccine production. Several agencies within Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) — including the Office of the Secretary, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), CDC, and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) — are in the process of working with vaccine manufacturers to facilitate production of pilot vaccine lots for both H5N1 and H9N2 strains as well as contracting for the manufacturing of 2 million doses of an H5N1 vaccine. This H5N1 vaccine production will provide a critical pilot test of the pandemic vaccine system; it will also be used for clinical trials to evaluate dose and immunogenicity and can provide initial vaccine for early use in the event of an emerging pandemic."[79] Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A vaccine is an antigenic preparation used to establish immunity to a disease. ... The United States Department of Health and Human Services, often abbreviated HHS, is a Cabinet department of the United States government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. ... “FDA” redirects here. ... The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, is recognized as the leading United States agency for protecting the public health and safety of people. ... National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. ... Influenza A virus subtype H5N1, also known as A(H5N1) or simply H5N1, is a subtype of the Influenza A virus which can cause illness in humans and many other animal species. ...


On August 26, 2004, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tommy Thompson released a draft Pandemic Influenza Response and Preparedness Plan[80], which outlined a coordinated national strategy to prepare for and respond to an influenza pandemic. Public comments were accepted for 60 days. is the 238th day of the year (239th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other people with similar names, see Thomas Thompson. ...


In a speech before the United Nations General Assembly on September 14, 2005, President George W. Bush announced the creation of the International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza. The Partnership brings together nations and international organizations to improve global readiness by: The United Nations General Assembly (GA, UNGA) is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation. ... is the 257th day of the year (258th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the forty-third and current President of the United States of America, originally inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ... President George W. Bush announced the International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza in his remarks to the High-Level Plenary Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on September 14, 2005, in New York. ...

  • elevating the issue on national agendas;
  • coordinating efforts among donor and affected nations;
  • mobilizing and leveraging resources;
  • increasing transparency in disease reporting and surveillance; and
  • building capacity to identify, contain and respond to a pandemic influenza.

On October 5, 2005, Democratic Senators Harry Reid, Evan Bayh, Dick Durbin, Ted Kennedy, Barack Obama, and Tom Harkin introduced the Pandemic Preparedness and Response Act as a proposal to deal with a possible outbreak.[81] For other uses, see 5th October (Serbia). ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Harry Mason Reid (born December 2, 1939) is the senior United States Senator from Nevada and a member of the Democratic Party. ... Birch Evans Bayh III (commonly known as Evan Bayh) (pronounced like bye; IPA pronunciation: ) (born December 26, 1955) is an American politician who has served as the junior U.S. Senator from Indiana since 1999 and a former Governor of Indiana. ... Richard Joseph Durbin (born November 21, 1944) is an American politician. ... For other persons named Ted Kennedy, see Ted Kennedy (disambiguation). ... “Barack” redirects here. ... Thomas Richard Tom Harkin (born November 19, 1939) is a liberal Democratic Senator from Iowa, serving in his fourth senate term. ... The Pandemic Preparedness and Response Act is a bill introduced on October 5, 2005 by Democratic Senators Harry Reid, Evan Bayh, Dick Durbin, Ted Kennedy, Barack Obama, and Tom Harkin in response to the growing threat of an outbreak of the Avian Flu. ...


On October 27, 2005, the Department of Health and Human Services awarded a $62.5 million contract to Chiron Corporation to manufacture an avian influenza vaccine designed to protect against the H5N1 influenza virus strain. This followed a previous awarded $100 million contract to sanofi pasteur, the vaccines business of the sanofi-aventis Group, for avian flu vaccine. is the 300th day of the year (301st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Chiron Corporation (NASDAQ: NVS) was a multinational biotechnology firm based in Emeryville, California that was acquired by Novartis International AG on April 30, 2006. ... Sanofi pasteur is the vaccines business of sanofi-aventis Group. ... Sanofi-aventis (Euronext: SAN, NYSE: SNY), headquartered in Paris, France, is one of the 3 largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, along with Pfizer,GlaxoSmithKline. ...


In October 2005, President Bush urged bird flu vaccine manufacturers to increase their production.[82] George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States, inaugurated on January 20, 2001 and re-elected in the 2004 U.S. presidential election. ...


On November 1, 2005 President Bush unveiled the National Strategy To Safeguard Against The Danger of Pandemic Influenza[83]. He also submitted a request to Congress for $7.1 billion to begin implementing the plan. The request includes $251 million to detect and contain outbreaks before they spread around the world; $2.8 billion to accelerate development of cell-culture technology; $800 million for development of new treatments and vaccines; $1.519 billion for the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Defense to purchase influenza vaccines; $1.029 billion to stockpile antiviral medications; and $644 million to ensure that all levels of government are prepared to respond to a pandemic outbreak.[84] is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...


On 6 March 2006, Mike Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services, said U.S. health agencies are continuing to develop vaccine alternatives that will protect against the evolving avian influenza virus.[85] is the 65th day of the year (66th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...


The U.S. government, bracing for the possibility that migrating birds could carry a deadly strain of bird flu to North America, plans to test nearly eight times as many wild birds starting in April 2006 as have been tested in the past decade.[86]


On 8 March 2006, Dr. David Nabarro, senior U.N. coordinator for avian and human influenza, said that given the flight patterns of wild birds that have been spreading avian influenza (bird flu) from Asia to Europe and Africa, birds infected with the H5N1 virus could reach the Americas within the next six to 12 months.[87] is the 67th day of the year (68th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...


"Jul 5, 2006 (CIDRAP News) – In an update on pandemic influenza preparedness efforts, the federal government said last week it had stockpiled enough vaccine against H5N1 avian influenza virus to inoculate about 4 million people and enough antiviral medication to treat about 6.3 million."[88]


China

In 1982, Kennedy F. Shortridge and Charles Stuart-Harris proposed that China, particularly southern China, is an epicentre for the emergence of pandemic influenza viruses[89]. This hypothesis was based on three observations: Influenza, commonly known as flu, is an infectious disease of birds and mammals caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae (the influenza viruses). ...


1. The occurrence of a large number of viruses in domestic poultry notably ducks in the region.


2. The dense populations and proximity of humans, poultry and pigs in villages and farms there.


3. The historical records associating China with epidemics and pandemics and, in the last century, the association of southern China with the emergence of the 1957 Asian and 1968 Hong Kong pandemic strains and the re-emergence of the 1977 H1N1 virus [90]. These records have been reinforced by the 1997 H5N1 incident that is considered by some to have been an incipient pandemic and a pandemic averted by the slaughter of poultry across Hong Kong SAR in late 1997. The Avian Flu was a pandemic outbreak of influenza that originated in China in 1957 and spread worldwide that same year. ... H1N1 is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus (sometimes called bird flu virus). ... Influenza A virus subtype H5N1, also known as A(H5N1) or simply H5N1, is a subtype of the Influenza A virus which can cause illness in humans and many other animal species. ...


See also

The Pandemic Severity Index (PSI) is a scale or index created in January 2007 by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) designed to mimic the system for indexing the severity of hurricanes (which is the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale for tropical cyclones). ...

Tags

Image File history File links Emblem-important. ... Image File history File links Broom_icon. ...

Further reading

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) is one of the best centers for research and treatment. ...

Sources and notes

  1. ^ Klenk et al (2008). "Avian Influenza: Molecular Mechanisms of Pathogenesis and Host Range", Animal Viruses: Molecular Biology. Caister Academic Press. ISBN 978-1-904455-22-6. 
  2. ^ Kawaoka Y (editor). (2006). Influenza Virology: Current Topics. Caister Academic Press. ISBN 978-1-904455-06-6 . 
  3. ^ CIDRAP article Sanofi tests H7N1 flu vaccine for pandemic readiness published September 19, 2006
  4. ^ a b Merck Manual Home Edition. Influenza: Viral Infections.
  5. ^ Eccles, R (2005). "Understanding the symptoms of the common cold and influenza". Lancet Infect Dis 5 (11): 718–25. PMID 16253889. 
  6. ^ Seasonal Flu vs. Stomach Flu by Kristina Duda, R.N.; accessed March 12, 2007 (Website: "About, Inc., A part of The New York Times Company")
  7. ^ Suarez, D; Spackman E, Senne D, Bulaga L, Welsch A, Froberg K (2003). "The effect of various disinfectants on detection of avian influenza virus by real time RT-PCR". Avian Dis 47 (3 Suppl): 1091–5. PMID 14575118. 
  8. ^ Avian Influenza (Bird Flu): Implications for Human Disease. Physical characteristics of influenza A viruses. UMN CIDRAP.
  9. ^ Flu viruses 'can live for decades' on ice, NZ Herald, November 30, 2006.
  10. ^ Avian influenza ("bird flu") fact sheet. WHO (February 2006). Retrieved on 2006-10-20.
  11. ^ WHO position paper: influenza vaccines WHO weekly Epidemiological Record 19 August 2005, vol. 80, 33, pp. 277–288.
  12. ^ Villegas, P (1998). "Viral diseases of the respiratory system". Poult Sci 77 (8): 1143–5. PMID 9706079. 
  13. ^ Horwood, F; Macfarlane J. "Pneumococcal and influenza vaccination: current situation and future prospects.". Thorax 57 Suppl 2: II24–II30. PMID 12364707. 
  14. ^ a b Harder, T. C. and Werner, O. (2006). "Avian Influenza", in Kamps, B. S., Hoffman, C. and Preiser, W. (ed.): Influenza Report 2006. Paris, France: Flying Publisher. ISBN 3-924774-51-X. 
    This e-book is under constant revision and is an excellent guide to Avian Influenza
  15. ^ See the articles for references that use these names.
  16. ^ CIDRAP - Center for Infectious Disease Research And Policy Pandemic Influenza Overview
  17. ^ Roos, Robert; Lisa Schnirring (February 1, 2007). HHS ties pandemic mitigation advice to severity. University of Minnesota Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP). Retrieved on 2007-02-03.
  18. ^ McNeil Jr., Donald. "Turning to Chickens in Fight With Bird Flu", The New York Times, 2006-05-02. Retrieved on 2006-09-13. "Desperate times call for desperate measures. In the worst months of the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, doctors failing to save patients tried all sorts of outlandish 'cures'. Cupping and bleeding made comebacks. Intravenous hydrogen peroxide was tried, sometimes fatally. One doctor injected a mix of blister fluid, morphine, strychnine and caffeine. Typhoid vaccine was given, since it prompts immune reactions; so was quinine, because it breaks malarial fevers."
  19. ^ U.S. Institute of Medicine; Stacey L. Knobler, Alison Mack, Adel Mahmoud, Stanley M. Lemon (editors) (2005). The Threat of Pandemic Influenza: Are We Ready?. National Academies Press, 62. ISBN 0-309-09504-2. 
  20. ^ U.S. Institute of Medicine; Stacey L. Knobler, Alison Mack, Adel Mahmoud, Stanley M. Lemon (editors) (2005). The Threat of Pandemic Influenza: Are We Ready?. National Academies Press, 66. ISBN 0-309-09504-2. 
  21. ^ U.S. Institute of Medicine; Stacey L. Knobler, Alison Mack, Adel Mahmoud, Stanley M. Lemon (editors) (2005). The Threat of Pandemic Influenza: Are We Ready?. National Academies Press, 59. ISBN 0-309-09504-2. 
  22. ^ U.S. Institute of Medicine; Stacey L. Knobler, Alison Mack, Adel Mahmoud, Stanley M. Lemon (editors) (2005). The Threat of Pandemic Influenza: Are We Ready?. National Academies Press, 60. ISBN 0-309-09504-2. 
  23. ^ U.S. Institute of Medicine; Stacey L. Knobler, Alison Mack, Adel Mahmoud, Stanley M. Lemon (editors) (2005). The Threat of Pandemic Influenza: Are We Ready?. National Academies Press, 63. ISBN 0-309-09504-2. 
  24. ^ U.S. Institute of Medicine; Stacey L. Knobler, Alison Mack, Adel Mahmoud, Stanley M. Lemon (editors) (2005). The Threat of Pandemic Influenza: Are We Ready?. National Academies Press, 61. ISBN 0-309-09504-2. 
  25. ^ Hilleman M (Aug 19 2002). "Realities and enigmas of human viral influenza: pathogenesis, epidemiology and control.". Vaccine 20 (25-26): 3068-87. PMID 12163258. 
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  27. ^ a b Patterson, KD; Pyle GF (Spring 1991). "The geography and mortality of the 1918 influenza pandemic.". Bull Hist Med. 65 (1): 4–21. PMID 2021692. 
  28. ^ a b c d "1: The Story of Influenza", in Knobler S, Mack A, Mahmoud A, Lemon S: The Threat of Pandemic Influenza: Are We Ready? Workshop Summary (2005). Washington, D.C.: The National Academies Press, 60–61. 
  29. ^ Potter, CW (Oct 2006). "A History of Influenza". J Appl Microbiol. 91 (4): 572–579. PMID 11576290. 
  30. ^ Simonsen, L; Clarke M, Schonberger L, Arden N, Cox N, Fukuda K (Jul 1998). "Pandemic versus epidemic influenza mortality: a pattern of changing age distribution.". J Infect Dis 178 (1): 53–60. PMID 9652423. 
  31. ^ a b Greene Jeffrey. Moline, Karen. [2006] (2006) The Bird Flu Pandemic. ISBN 0312360568.
  32. ^ Goldsmith, Connie. [2007] (2007) Influenza: The Next Pandemic? 21st century publishing. ISBN 0761394575
  33. ^ Starling, Arthur. [2006] (2006) Plague, SARS, and the Story of Medicine in Hong Kong. HK University Press. ISBN 9622098053
  34. ^ (Detailed chart of its evolution here.)
  35. ^ Digitized Editorial Research Reports By Congressional Quarterly, inc 1986
  36. ^ International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (2002). 46.0.1. Influenzavirus A. Retrieved on 2006-04-17.
  37. ^ Li KS, Guan Y, Wang J, Smith GJ, Xu KM, Duan L, Rahardjo AP, Puthavathana P, Buranathai C, Nguyen TD, Estoepangestie AT, Chaisingh A, Auewarakul P, Long HT, Hanh NT, Webby RJ, Poon LL, Chen H, Shortridge KF, Yuen KY, Webster RG, Peiris JS. (2004). "Genesis of a highly pathogenic and potentially pandemic H5N1 influenza virus in eastern Asia". Nature 430 (6996): 209-213. PubMeddoi:10.1038/nature02746. 
    This was reprinted in 2005:
    Li KS, Guan Y, Wang J, Smith GJ, Xu KM, Duan L, Rahardjo AP, Puthavathana P, Buranathai C, Nguyen TD, Estoepangestie AT, Chaisingh A, Auewarakul P, Long HT, Hanh NT, Webby RJ, Poon LL, Chen H, Shortridge KF, Yuen KY, Webster RG, Peiris JS. (2005). "Today's Pandemic Threat: Genesis of a Highly Pathogenic and Potentially Pandemic H5N1 Influenza Virus in Eastern Asia,", in Forum on Microbial Threats Board on Global Health: Knobler SL, Mack A, Mahmoud A, Lemon SM. (ed.): The Threat of Pandemic Influenza: Are We Ready? Workshop Summary (2005). Washington DC: The National Academies Press, 116-130. 
  38. ^ "Avian influenza strains are those well adapted to birds"EUROPEAN CENTRE FOR DISEASE PREVENTION AND CONTROL.
  39. ^ Chapter Two : Avian Influenza by Timm C. Harder and Ortrud Werner from excellent free on-line Book called Influenza Report 2006 which is a medical textbook that provides a comprehensive overview of epidemic and pandemic influenza.
  40. ^ Large-scale sequencing of human influenza reveals the dynamic nature of viral genome evolution Nature magazine presents a summary of what has been discovered in the Influenza Genome Sequencing Project.
  41. ^ Full HTML text of Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Infection in Humans by The Writing Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) Consultation on Human Influenza A/H5 in the September 29, 2005 New England Journal of Medicine
  42. ^ The Threat of Pandemic Influenza: Are We Ready? Workshop Summary (2005) Full text of online book by INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
  43. ^ Here is the tree showing evolution by antigenic drift since 2002 that created dozens of highly pathogenic varieties of the Z genotype of avian flu virus H5N1, some of which are increasingly adapted to mammals.
  44. ^ Evolutionary characterization of the six internal genes of H5N1 human influenza A virus
  45. ^ Webster, R. G. and Walker, E. J. (2003). "The world is teetering on the edge of a pandemic that could kill a large fraction of the human population". American Scientist 91 (2): 122. doi:10.1511/2003.2.122. 
  46. ^ United Nations. "Press Conference by UN System Senior Coordinator for Avian, Human Influenza", UN News and Media Division, Department of Public Information, New York, 2005-09-29. Retrieved on 2006-04-17. 
  47. ^ Rosenthal, E. and Bradsher, K.. "Is Business Ready for a Flu Pandemic?", The New York Times, 2006-03-16. Retrieved on 2006-04-17. 
  48. ^ Science and Development Network article Pandemic flu: fighting an enemy that is yet to exist published May 3, 2006.
  49. ^ Robert G. Webster, Ph.D., and Elena A. Govorkova, M.D., Ph.D. (November 23, 2006). "H5N1 Influenza — Continuing Evolution and Spread". NEJM 355 (21): 2174-2177. 
  50. ^ CDC ARTICLE 1918 Influenza: the Mother of All Pandemics by Jeffery K. Taubenberger published January 2006
  51. ^ Informaworld article Why is the world so poorly prepared for a pandemic of hypervirulent avian influenza? published December 2006
  52. ^ Roos, Robert; Lisa Schnirring (February 1, 2007). HHS ties pandemic mitigation advice to severity. University of Minnesota Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP). Retrieved on 2007-02-03.
  53. ^ CDC Key Facts About Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) and Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus
  54. ^ Bloomberg News article Scientists Move Closer to Understanding Flu Virus Evolution published August 28, 2006
  55. ^ CDC Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal Volume 12, Number 9 – September 2006 - Genomic Signatures of Human versus Avian Influenza A Viruses article by Chen G-W, Chang S-C, Mok C-K, Lo Y-L, Kung Y-N, Huang J-H, et al. posted August 23, 2006
  56. ^ New England Journal of Medicine Volume 352:686-691 - February 17, 2005 - Number 7 - Fatal Avian Influenza A (H5N1) in a Child Presenting with Diarrhea Followed by Coma
  57. ^ NAP Books National Academies Press Books - The Threat of Pandemic Influenza: Are We Ready? Workshop Summary (2005) - page 7.
  58. ^ New York Times Published: November 8, 2005 - Hazard in Hunt for New Flu: Looking for Bugs in All the Wrong Places
  59. ^ Detailed chart of its evolution here at PDF called Ecology and Evolution of the Flu
  60. ^ NAP Books National Academies Press Books - The Threat of Pandemic Influenza: Are We Ready? Workshop Summary (2005) - page 115 - "There is particular pressure to recognize and heed the lessons of past influenza pandemics in the shadow of the worrisome 2003–2004 flu season. An early-onset, severe form of influenza A H3N2 made headlines when it claimed the lives of several children in the United States in late 2003. As a result, stronger than usual demand for annual flu inactivated vaccine outstripped the vaccine supply, of which 10 to 20 percent typically goes unused. Because statistics on pediatric flu deaths had not been collected previously, it is unknown if the 2003–2004 season witnessed a significant change in mortality patterns."
  61. ^ Reason New York Times This Season's Flu Virus Is Resistant to 2 Standard Drugs By Altman Published: January 15, 2006
  62. ^ NAP Books National Academies Press Books - The Threat of Pandemic Influenza: Are We Ready? Workshop Summary (2005) - page 126
  63. ^ a b c Council on Foreign Relations; Michael Osterholm, Rita Colwell, Laurie Garrett, Anthony S. Fauci, James F. Hoge, Nancy E. Roman (2005-06-16). The Threat of Global Pandemics. Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved on 2006-09-13.
  64. ^ CDC
  65. ^ Influenza vaccine manufacturers. World Health Organization. Retrieved on 2006-09-13.
  66. ^ The clock is ticking. Phacilitate. Retrieved on 2006-09-13.
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  68. ^ Nature
  69. ^ Kang, Peter. "Gilead's Tamiflu Royalties A Shot In The Arm In 2006", Forbes, 2006-02-01. Retrieved on 2006-09-13. 
  70. ^ "Avian Influenza & Wild Birds Bulletin, Vol. 123 No. 1", International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2006-04-14. Retrieved on 2006-09-13. 
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  1. Poland, G. A. (2006), "Vaccines against Avian Influenza—A Race against Time", N Eng J Med 354 (13): 1411–1413
  2. Treanor, J. J.; Campbell, J. D. & Zangwill, K. M. et al. (2006), "Safety and Immunogenicity of an Inactivated Subvirion Influenza A (H5N1) Vaccine", N Eng J Med 354 (13): 1343–51

  Results from FactBites:
 
Influenza pandemic - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (5940 words)
An influenza pandemic is a large scale epidemic of the influenza virus, such as the 1918 Spanish flu.
In a bad pandemic, some communities attempt to cut themselves off totally while others have half (or more) of their population die, and others may not feel many of the effects but may still be affected due to the high degree of illness and the bereavement felt by the members of the community.
For example, the initial wave of the Spanish Influenza pandemic in the spring of 1918 was so mild in its effects that it received the dismissive nickname of the "three day flu." But when the second wave hit North America a few months later in the summer of 1918, it was lethal.
Bird flu pandemic, pandemic flu, Influenza pandemic (881 words)
Antigenic shift is responsible for the emergence of Pandemic influenza viruses.
The new Influenza A virus subtype has the capability to initiate a Pandemic provided the appearance of a new influenza A virus subtype is the first step toward a pandemic provided it has the capacity to spread from person to person.
Both the 1957-58 and 1968-69 pandemics were caused by viruses containing a combination of genes from a human influenza virus and an avian influenza virus.
  More results at FactBites »


 

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