Over the past fifteen years H5N1 influenza (also known as Avian Flu or Bird Flu) has become a common topic of speculation and debate worldwide, causing quite a bit of confusion about its possible impacts on our society. At this point in time it is generally recognized by the international medical community that Avian Flu is bound to become a pandemic, most likely within the next ten years. Research on Avian Flu and its effects have led many scholars to make grave predictions of major global turmoil while a small portion of medical scientists remain skeptical, believing we will have enough time to thoroughly prepare for the outbreak. The one thing that nearly all health professionals seem to agree upon is that the avian flu will surely …show more content…
There are many different types of flu, categorized most broadly by influenza A, B, and C strains. They are further classified by genetic differences represented by H and N. Seasonal flus are either type A or B and classified by H3N2, swine flu (a flu strain you may remember by the media stir it caused in 2009) is type A and H1N1, and avian flu is type A and H5N1. Type A flu strains are considered to be the most severe and are usually the only type of influenza that can cause a pandemic. On paper the avian flu may seem like the flu strains that we experience every year, but H5N1 is certainly unique. The first reason for this is that research has suggested that for currently idiopathic reasons the avian flu seems to have a predisposition to mutation, enabling it to rapidly create new strains that may be more dangerous, more contagious, or even resistant to antibiotics (which has already been observed in at least one case of an infected Vietnamese teenager). The reason avian flu has not yet caused any major outbreaks is because right now the virus is unable to be transmitted from human to human, only from bird to bird or bird to human. With such a high tendency to mutate, it is only a matter of time before the avian flu mutates into a strain that can be transmitted between
According to Center for Disease Control (CDC), influenza viruses are divided into three types, designated as A, B, and C. Influenza type C usually only causes either very mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. Types A and B, however, are responsible for epidemics of respiratory illnesses that can result in hospitalization, or even death. Influenza is constantly changing over time by mutations. This continual change allows the virus to evade the antibodies that were meant to kill it. A host infected with influenza virus develops antibodies against that virus; as the virus changes, the "first" antibody no longer recognizes the "newer" virus and infection can occur because the host does not recognize the new flu virus as a problem until the infection is well under way. The first antibody developed may, in some instances, provide partial protection against infection with a new influenza virus. According to Medicine Net.com, In 2009, almost all individuals had no antibodies that could recognize the novel H1N1 virus immediately. It quickly spread throughout the world so fast that the WHO declared this new flu strain (termed novel H1N1 influenza A swine flu). There are currently four main strains of influenza circulating worldwide. Three of the viruses are type A, and one is type B. Type A viruses are divided into subtypes based on the differences in two viral proteins called hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). The three subtypes of influenza A are A(H1N1), A(H3N2), and A(H5N1). The reason for several strands of type A are because of the two kinds of change influenza A
Influenza viruses are divided into three classes. These are A, B, and C. Influenza A and B are blamed for the increases in hospitalization and deaths each year. The aim of receiving an annual vaccine is to prevent spreading infections. Since flu outbreaks vary, it is recommended that individuals receive a vaccination for the flu
Before jumping into talking about the different features of Influenza, ranging from its pathogenesis and virulence, to the transmission and treatment of the disease, it is necessary to mention the slight-but important- difference between seasonal influenza, pandemic influenza and zoonotic influenza.
Awareness and availability will impact the incidence of an outbreak. The China outbreak was not well understood; therefore, preventative measures were not yet in place. Many were exposed and infected but were not developing clinical disease, and only seven of the 18 cases had direct or indirect contact with poultry. Universal precautions and practicing good hygiene is the best way to prevent the spread of influenza.
Seasonal influenza is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in the industrialized world. The United States alone averages more than 23,000 influenza-associated deaths annually (Cortes-Penfield, 2014). Everyone is given the option to receive the flu vaccination each year. The vaccine is offered in health care facilities, clinics, and pharmacies around
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2013) national healthcare disparities report for 2010, influenza and pneumonia are ranked within the top ten major causes of death in the United States. The influenza viruses that will be discussed throughout this case study include the human influenza viruses: A and B. These viruses are responsible for seasonal epidemics during the fall and winter around the globe in temperate environments. Historically influenza outbreaks have had a seasonal distribution and characteristic time course although according to the CDC (2017) factors influencing the extent and severity of an outbreak are less clear. Generally, there are two or three different influenza strains typically circulating concurrently in any given
Influenza, an innocent little virus that annually comes and goes, has always been a part of people’s lives. Knowing this, one would not believe that it has caused not one, not two, but three pandemics and is on its way to causing a fourth! The Spanish flu of 1918, the Asian flu of 1957, and the Hong Kong
There are there types of influenza A and C or the most severe types and B which is the most common, Luckily not the to severe. The virus works by first attaching to the outside of a host cell. It injects its RNA into the cell. Unfortunately our cells treat the RNA like they should. It translates the viral genes using the cell’s ribosomes and enzymes. Now the virus can take the cell over and use it to reproduce more viruses. Sooner or later it releases the new nauseating viruses and they search for another cell to raid.
Avian influenza is a disease that has been wreaking havoc on human populations since the 16th century. With the recent outbreak in 1997 of a new H5N1 avian flu subtype, the world has begun preparing for a pandemic by looking upon its past affects. In the 20th Century, the world witnessed three pandemics in the years of 1918, 1957, and 1968. In 1918 no vaccine, antibiotic, or clear recognition of the disease was known. Killing over 40 million in less than a year, the H1N1 strain ingrained a deep and lasting fear of the virus throughout the world. Though 1957 and 1968 brought on milder pandemics, they still killed an estimated 3 million people and presented a new
There are three types of the influenza virus: Type A, B, and C. Types A and B are contracted and spread by human-to-human transmission.
Influenza is one of the most contagious illnesses caused by airborne viruses. I can lead to mild or severe illness and even death. Influenza can come suddenly and is marginally different to a ‘Cold”. The virus can cause infections of the lower respiratory tract (lungs) and the upper respiratory tract (throat, nasal). Influenza is disease that may cause symptom such as the following; fever (high body temperature), sore throat, muscle or body aches, cough, Headaches, runny or stuffy nose, fatigue/tiredness (CDC, 2016). it belongs to “Orthomyxoviridae” family of infections, “myxa” meaning ‘mucus’ in Greek. There are three major types of influenza that may also be addressed as different terminologies, such as flu
SPARKS, Nev. -- The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) confirms the first case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) was found in Nevada. HPAI is a virus that is highly contagious among birds, and can be deadly to them. This strain (H5N8) has not been shown to cause any human infection.
These create more damage than it fixes. The more it produces makes your immune system weaker also. In order to manage this, people should get rest and drink lots of fluids. If you have flu-like symptoms, it is best to seek medical care. Anti-viral drugs are effective in treating the condition. Avoid contact with dead poultry to not contract this disease. Biosecurity and infection control can help too. Infected birds spread it through shedding their feathers, saliva, mucus, and feces. Antiviral drugs, mainly oseltamivir, can reduce the viral reproduction. Oseltamivir inhibits it from spreading inside the body. Complications included respiratory distress syndrome, renal failure, liver dysfunction and hematological disorders. Vaccines are Pandemrix, fluzone, influvac, live attenuated, and optaflu. Treatments are amantidine, arbidol, Laninamivir, oseltamivir, Peramivir Rimantadine vitamin D Zanamivir. There are no specific vaccines that can sure the H5N1 Avian flu all the way, but it can slow down the process and keep it from reproducing as much. Prevent by washing your hand with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds before touching raw poultry, clean cutting boards and other utensils with soap and water to keep raw foods from contaminating other foods, use a food thermometer to make sure the food is cooked at 165 degrees Fahrenheit, and cook eggs until white and yolks are firm.
With a huge number of victims, 80 to 100 million, since 1918, the influenza is considered as one of the most pandemic diseases ever. There are three types of influenza virus: influenza virus A, influenza virus B, and influenza virus c. These are a subtypes of the virus family orthomyx-oviride. The types B and C do not cause pandemic diseases while type A does. The type A classified into three main subtype H1.N1, H1.N2, and H3.N2. The (H.N) refers to the two kinds of proteins on the surface of the virus (hemagglutinin and neuraminidase). The difference in numbers is due to the difference in protein variability. A H1.N1 virus which is widely known as Spanish flu is the only type that can transmit from human to human. The H5.N1, or “bird flu”
An influenza pandemic is a global outbreak of disease that occurs when a new influenza A virus appears or "emerges" in the human population, causes serious illness, and then spreads easily from person to person worldwide. Pandemics are different from seasonal outbreaks or "epidemics" of influenza. Seasonal outbreaks are caused by subtypes of influenza viruses that are already in existence among people, whereas pandemic outbreaks are caused by new subtypes or by subtypes that have never circulated among people or that have not circulated among people for a long time. Past influenza pandemics have led to high levels of illness, death, social disruption, and economic loss.