The Threat of an Avian Influenza Pandemic

2005 ◽  
Vol 352 (10) ◽  
pp. 1056-1056
Keyword(s):  
Avian Influenza ◽  
Influenza Pandemic

Avian Influenza Human Infections at the Human-Animal Interface

2020 ◽  
Vol 222 (4) ◽  
pp. 528-537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damien A M Philippon ◽  
Peng Wu ◽  
Benjamin J Cowling ◽  
Eric H Y Lau
Keyword(s):  
Avian Influenza ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Influenza Pandemic ◽  
World Health ◽  
Emerging Pathogens ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
Dead Bird ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Human Infections

Abstract Background Avian influenza A viruses (AIVs) are among the most concerning emerging and re-emerging pathogens because of the potential risk for causing an influenza pandemic with catastrophic impact. The recent increase in domestic animals and poultry worldwide was followed by an increase of human AIV outbreaks reported. Methods We reviewed the epidemiology of human infections with AIV from the literature including reports from the World Health Organization, extracting information on virus subtype, time, location, age, sex, outcome, and exposure. Results We described the characteristics of more than 2500 laboratory-confirmed human infections with AIVs. Human infections with H5N1 and H7N9 were more frequently reported than other subtypes. Risk of death was highest among reported cases infected with H5N1, H5N6, H7N9, and H10N8 infections. Older people and males tended to have a lower risk of infection with most AIV subtypes, except for H7N9. Visiting live poultry markets was mostly reported by H7N9, H5N6, and H10N8 cases, while exposure to sick or dead bird was mostly reported by H5N1, H7N2, H7N3, H7N4, H7N7, and H10N7 cases. Conclusions Understanding the profile of human cases of different AIV subtypes would guide control strategies. Continued monitoring of human infections with AIVs is essential for pandemic preparedness.

Avian influenza. Why the concern?

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 162
Author(s):  
Ian G Barr ◽  
Frank YK Wong
Keyword(s):  
Avian Influenza ◽  
Influenza Pandemic ◽  
Wild Birds ◽  
Domestic Poultry ◽  
Highly Virulent

Avian influenza normally has little impact on poultry and wild birds but since 1996, highly virulent viruses have emerged and continue to circulate in many countries. The results of these viruses have been devastating in domestic poultry and they have also spilled over into humans, infecting and killing hundreds and raising the opportunities for the virus to further adapt and possibly cause a future influenza pandemic. This article briefly details these events and discusses the consequences of these viruses continuing to circulate and cause disease.

scholarly journals Concerns and Preparedness for an Avian Influenza Pandemic: A Comparison between Community Hospital and Tertiary Hospital Healthcare Workers

2007 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 653-661 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seng Kwing CHEONG ◽  
Teck Yee WONG ◽  
Heow Yong LEE ◽  
Yuke Tien FONG ◽  
Boon Yeow TAN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Avian Influenza ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Community Hospital ◽  
Influenza Pandemic ◽  
Tertiary Hospital

Needs Assessment for a Targeted Health Promotion Campaign

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 596-604
Author(s):  
Greta Tam
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Avian Influenza ◽  
Influenza Pandemic ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Double Burden ◽  
Preventive Practices ◽  
Health Promotion Campaign ◽  
Influenza Activity ◽  
The Individual

ABSTRACTSince the first human A/H7N9 infection in Hong Kong, there has been an ongoing threat of human-to-human transmission, potentially causing a pandemic. Because there is no vaccine for A/H7N9, the individual preventive measures become all the more important for reducing transmission. However, due to the ongoing threat of numerous avian influenza viruses, the public may suffer from pandemic-media-fatigue. This study was done to assess the need for a targeted A/H7N9 health promotion campaign. Steven and Gillam’s framework using epidemiological, comparative, and corporate approaches was used to assess the need for a targeted A/H7N9 health promotion campaign.Local surveillance data showed that Hong Kong faces a double burden of increasing seasonal influenza activity and threat of an avian influenza pandemic. Experts warned of potential severity and difficulties in A/H7N9 control. In contrast, surveys showed that the Hong Kong public were suffering from pandemic-media-fatigue, lacked anxiety, had misconceptions, and were not vigilant in preventive practices. This was more evident in certain demographics. Content analysis showed that health promotion materials were not targeted or tailored in countries with human A/H7N9 cases. Targeted health promotion campaigns and framing the issue to increase public and media awareness are crucial in preventing the current pandemic-media-fatigue. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness.2019;13:596-604)

scholarly journals Lessons From Influenza Pandemics of the Last 100 Years

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnold S Monto ◽  
Keiji Fukuda
Keyword(s):  
Avian Influenza ◽  
Seasonal Influenza ◽  
Influenza Pandemic ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Avian Influenza Viruses ◽  
Influenza Pandemics ◽  
Fundamental Difficulty ◽  
1918 Influenza ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Seasonal influenza is an annual occurrence, but it is the threat of pandemics that produces universal concern. Recurring reports of avian influenza viruses severely affecting humans have served as constant reminders of the potential for another pandemic. Review of features of the 1918 influenza pandemic and subsequent ones helps in identifying areas where attention in planning is critical. Key among such issues are likely risk groups and which interventions to employ. Past pandemics have repeatedly underscored, for example, the vulnerability of groups such as pregnant women and taught other lessons valuable for future preparedness. While a fundamental difficulty in planning for the next pandemic remains their unpredictability and infrequency, this uncertainty can be mitigated, in part, by optimizing the handling of the much more predictable occurrence of seasonal influenza. Improvements in antivirals and novel vaccine formulations are critical in lessening the impact of both pandemic and seasonal influenza.

The threat of an avian influenza pandemic

2005 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 632-632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ray Higginson ◽  
Kevin Davies
Keyword(s):  
Avian Influenza ◽  
Influenza Pandemic

Attitudes to Living and Working in Pandemic Conditions among Emergency Prehospital Medical Care Personnel

2010 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerrianne Watt ◽  
Vivienne C. Tippett ◽  
Steven G. Raven ◽  
Konrad Jamrozik ◽  
Michael Coory ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Avian Influenza ◽  
Medical Care ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Influenza Pandemic ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Apparent Lack ◽  
Infection Transmission ◽  
Prehospital Medical Care

AbstractIntroduction:Little is known about the risk perceptions and attitudes of healthcare personnel, especially of emergency prehospital medical care personnel, regarding the possibility of an outbreak or epidemic event.Problem:This study was designed to investigate pre-event knowledge and attitudes of a national sample of the emergency prehospital medical care providers in relation to a potential human influenza pandemic, and to determine predictors of these attitudes.Methods:Surveys were distributed to a random, cross-sectional sample of 20% of the Australian emergency prehospital medical care workforce (n = 2,929), stratified by the nine services operating in Australia, as well as by gender and location. The surveys included: (1) demographic information; (2) knowledge of influenza; and (3) attitudes and perceptions related to working during influenza pandemic conditions. Multiple logistic regression models were constructed to identify predictors of pandemic-related risk perceptions.Results:Among the 725 Australian emergency prehospital medical care personnel who responded, 89% were very anxious about working during pandemic conditions, and 85% perceived a high personal risk associated with working in such conditions. In general, respondents demonstrated poor knowledge in relation to avian influenza, influenza generally, and infection transmission methods. Less than 5% of respondents perceived that they had adequate education/training about avian influenza. Logistic regression analyses indicate that, in managing the attitudes and risk perceptions of emergency prehospital medical care staff, particular attention should be directed toward the paid, male workforce (as opposed to volunteers), and on personnel whose relationship partners do not work in the health industry.Conclusions:These results highlight the potentially crucial role of education and training in pandemic preparedness. Organizations that provide emergency prehospital medical care must address this apparent lack of knowledge regarding infection transmission, and procedures for protection and decontamination. Careful management of the perceptions of emergency prehospital medical care personnel during a pandemic is likely to be critical in achieving an effective response to a widespread outbreak of infectious disease.

Should Tamiflu™ be stockpiled locally?

2006 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 21
Author(s):  
Sandro Cinti, MD ◽  
Gerald Blackburn, DO
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Avian Influenza ◽  
Hurricane Katrina ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Influenza Pandemic ◽  
The United States ◽  
H5n1 Avian Influenza ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Federal Response

The outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza in Asia raises serious concerns about an influenza pandemic of the kind seen in 1918. In addition, the recent federal response to Hurricane Katrina highlights the need for advanced local preparation for biological disasters. It is clear that there will not be enough vaccine early in an influenza pandemic. Without vaccine, the role of antivirals, especially oseltamivir (Tamiflu™), in treatment and prophylaxis becomes of paramount importance. It is unlikely that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will be able to stockpile enough oseltamivir to protect every first responder in the United States. Thus, it is important that local governments and hospitals consider stockpiling oseltamivir for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of local first responders.

scholarly journals A Critical Prospect of Structural Designing of Avian Influenza A/H5N1 Neuraminidase Inhibitors That Evade Tamiflu Resistance

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Petar M. Mitrasinovic
Keyword(s):  
Avian Influenza ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Rational Design ◽  
Influenza Pandemic ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Neuraminidase Inhibitors ◽  
Virus Spread ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
Flu Vaccine

The key public health concern is to define the way in which the next influenza pandemic will be controlled. At present, the question of vital importance is: in the absence of a specific avian flu vaccine, could antiviral drugs obstruct a pandemic should the virus spread from birds to humans? The answer to the issue is inevitably related to finding the ways to circumvent Tamiflu resistance that is well documented in the literature. Several remarkable but slightly mutually inconsistent contributions have been recently reported with the aim to facilitate the development of new inhibitors acting on the key target—neuraminidase of avian influenza A/H5N1 virus. Herein, the versatile arguments are critically analyzed and reconciled. Consequently, the most relevant structural basis for the rational design of novel antivirals is elaborated.

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