H5N1 avian influenza virus: an overview

AUTOR(ES)

Proença-Módena, José Luiz, Macedo, Izolete Santos, Arruda, Eurico

FONTE

Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases

DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2007-02

RESUMO

Avian influenza virus (H5N1) emerged in Hong Kong in 1997, causing severe human disease. In recent years, several outbreaks have been reported in different parts of Asia, Europe and Africa, raising concerns of dissemination of a new and highly lethal influenza pandemic. Although H5N1 has not been capable of sustaining human-to-human transmission, the ability of the virus to undergo variation due to mutations and reassortment, clearly poses the possibility of viral adaptation to the human species. For this reason the World Health Organization has established that we are now in a phase of pandemic alert. Preparing for an influenza pandemic involves a great deal of awareness necessary to stop initial outbreaks, through the use of case recognition, sensitive and rapid diagnostic methods, appropriate therapeutic and preventive measures to reduce spread. Influenza pandemic preparedness involves coordinated pharmacologic and vaccinal strategies, as well as containment measures such as travel restrictions and quarantine approaches.

Documentos Relacionados

• Characterization of a Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza A Virus Isolated from Duck Meat
• Avian Flu School: A Training Approach to Prepare for H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
• H5N1 influenza: A protean pandemic threat
• Emergence of multiple genotypes of H5N1 avian influenza viruses in Hong Kong SAR
• Molecular Correlates of Influenza A H5N1 Virus Pathogenesis in Mice