Villegas EJF

Language: Spanish
References: 8
Page: 19-22
PDF size: 184.35 Kb.

ABSTRACT

The newly avian influenza pandemic has been caused by a subtype of influenza A virus, namely the A/H5N1, genotype Z, a virus of highly pathogenic virulence. This outbreak started in Southern China in poultry and has been spreading to other parts of the world by migratory birds. Since 10 years ago human cases has been reported as a result of poultry-to-human transmission probable due to airborne, droplet, or direct contact by handle sick poultries without precautions. By this way a pandemic could occur. It is important to recognized the disease in humans because has a more than 60% mortality rate. Diagnosis is done in clinical and epidemiological basis and confirmed by antigen tests with high viral titers in the throat and lower respiratory samples. Transmission between humans is unknown at this time.

REFERENCES

1. The Writing Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) Consultation on Human Influenza A/H5. Current concepts: Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Infection in Humans. N Engl J Med 2005; 353: 1374-85.

2. Samson SY. Wong and Kwok-yung Yuen. Avian Influenza Virus Infections in Humans. Chest 2006; 129: 156-168.

3. Key Facts About Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) and Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus. CDC. 2005.

4. The Avian Influenza. World Health Organization website.

5. The World Health Organization (WHO). http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/

6. Influenza pandemic (http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/geninfo/pandemics.htm) (worldwide outbreak of disease).

7. Weekly epidemiological record. Update: WHO-confirmed human cases of avian influenza A(H5N1) infection. http://www.who.int/wer. 25 November 2003 – 24 November 2006. February 9, 2007.

8. http://www.avianflu.gov