The pandemic threat of an Avian Influenza Virus: An overview

The worst pandemic in modern history occurred during the ۱۹۱۸ H۱N۱ Spanish Influenza epidemic. Two additional instances of influenza A(H۵N۱) viral infection in humans have been disclosed to WHO in the West Pacific Zone between July ۱۲ and July ۱۸, ۲۰۲۴. Merely three HA subtypes, namely H۵, H۷, and H۹, have been identified and observed in domestic fowl across extensive geographic regions. The Asian H۷N۹ virus and the recently discovered avian-origin H۵ A/goose/Guangdong/۱/۱۹۹۶ (GsGd) virus have infected hundreds of humans and killed many of them. Although these infectious diseases have not expanded beyond affected individuals, they will start a pandemic if they develop the capacity to travel effectively from person to person, especially through the air. Thus, the focus of this analysis is on the characteristics of the Asian H۷N۹ and H۵ GsGd viruses that facilitate airborne transmission and have recently resulted in zoonotic illnesses. Three waves of outbreaks of influenza have occurred across many continents due to the H۵ influenza viruses, which migratory wild birds carry. The third wave of influenza outbreaks began in ۲۰۲۰ and is still underway. China, which produces the majority of the world's poultry, lost very few animals throughout the three phases of H۵ avian influenza epidemics and almost completely eradicated the widespread H۷N۹ viruses that surfaced in ۲۰۱۳. Diverse nations have implemented distinct approaches to manage highly virulent avian influenza. While some countries, like China, have chosen a "cull plus vaccination" approach, many European  and North America countries control highly virulent influenza by culling diseased and suspected birds (also known as the stamping-out technique). This paper provides an overview of the avian influenza virus, its management measures, and potential problems associated with an epidemic.

کلیدواژه ها:

H۷N۹ ، zoonotic illness ، influenza viruses ، H۵N۱