Avian Influenza

Avian influenza (also known as bird flu or avian flu) is a type of influenza virulent in birds. It was first identified in Italy in the early 1900s and is now known to exist worldwide.
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Infection

The causative agent is the avian influenza (AI) virus. AI viruses all belong to the influenza virus A genus of the Orthomyxoviridae family and are negative-stranded, segmented RNA viruses.

Avian influenza spreads in the air and in manure. Wild fowl often act as resistant carriers, spreading it to more susceptible domestic stocks. It can also be transmitted by contaminated feed, water, equipment and clothing; however, there is no evidence that the virus can survive in well cooked meat.

Cats are also thought to be possible infection vectors for H5N1 strains of avian flu (Kuiken et al, 2004).

The incubation period is 3 to 5 days. Symptoms in animals vary, but virulent strains can cause death within a few days.

Symptoms

In humans, it has been found that avian flu causes similar symptoms to other types of flu:

* fever
* cough
* sore throat
* muscle aches
* conjunctivitis
* in severe cases of avian flu, it can cause severe breathing problems and pneumonia, and can be fatal.

In one case, a boy with H5N1 presented to the hospital with diarrhea followed rapidly by a coma without developing respiratory or flu-like symptoms.

Pandemic threat and preparedness plans

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that there is a substantial risk of an influenza pandemic within the next few years. One of the strongest candidates is the A(H5N1) subtype of Influenza virus. WHO published a first edition of the Global Influenza Preparedness Plan in 1999, and updated it in April 2005. This is the first time a pandemic has been anticipated and is being prepared for.

The aims of such plans are, broadly speaking, the following:

* Before a pandemic, attempt to prevent it and prepare for it in case prevention fails.
* If a pandemic does occur, to slow its spread and allow societies to function as normally as possible.