Hn1 Research Paper
Modern Maladies (20 points)
Due: Thursday, March 1, 2012
Avian Influenza A: H5N1
Avian Influenza, also known as bird flu, is a zoonotic disease with several different subtypes that affect mostly other birds, but few can be transmitted to humans. The most prevalent avian influenza virus in humans is the highly pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1) virus, which has caused over 380 confirmed cases in 15 countries (Rabinowitz, 2010). Majority of cases have been transmitted via bird-to-human, with rare cases of human-to-human transmission. Continued exposure to the virus not only poses the threat of ongoing morbidity and mortality, but also the threat of H5N1 being able to adapt and change allowing sustained human-to-human transmission. …show more content…
WHO has been responsible for providing recent data and statistics regarding H5N1 in humans. Avian Influenza is covered by GAR, WHO’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, which is responsible for monitoring and keeping surveillance on the disease. OIE is responsible for reporting recent data relating specifically to outbreaks of avian influenza in animals. FAO, working collaboratively with OIE and WHO, “sets the context for national and regional strategies, policies, programs and projects designed to control and prevent the disease (Strategy and Policy)” from …show more content…
“The occurrence of a pandemic human influenza is dependent on three conditions: 1) a new influenza virus emerges; 2) the new virus has the ability to cause severe disease in humans; and 3) the new virus can spread from human to human in an efficient and sustained manner.” (Smallman-Raynor & Cliff, 2008) The first two of these conditions have already been met. As long as the virus has the opportunity to infect humans, the risk that it may acquire the ability to become transmissible between humans is still
Due: Thursday, March 1, 2012
Avian Influenza A: H5N1
Avian Influenza, also known as bird flu, is a zoonotic disease with several different subtypes that affect mostly other birds, but few can be transmitted to humans. The most prevalent avian influenza virus in humans is the highly pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1) virus, which has caused over 380 confirmed cases in 15 countries (Rabinowitz, 2010). Majority of cases have been transmitted via bird-to-human, with rare cases of human-to-human transmission. Continued exposure to the virus not only poses the threat of ongoing morbidity and mortality, but also the threat of H5N1 being able to adapt and change allowing sustained human-to-human transmission. …show more content…
WHO has been responsible for providing recent data and statistics regarding H5N1 in humans. Avian Influenza is covered by GAR, WHO’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, which is responsible for monitoring and keeping surveillance on the disease. OIE is responsible for reporting recent data relating specifically to outbreaks of avian influenza in animals. FAO, working collaboratively with OIE and WHO, “sets the context for national and regional strategies, policies, programs and projects designed to control and prevent the disease (Strategy and Policy)” from …show more content…
“The occurrence of a pandemic human influenza is dependent on three conditions: 1) a new influenza virus emerges; 2) the new virus has the ability to cause severe disease in humans; and 3) the new virus can spread from human to human in an efficient and sustained manner.” (Smallman-Raynor & Cliff, 2008) The first two of these conditions have already been met. As long as the virus has the opportunity to infect humans, the risk that it may acquire the ability to become transmissible between humans is still