Avian Influenza Essay

avian Influenza, also known as bird flu, is a zoonotic affection with several different subtypes that affect by and large other birds, but a couple of(prenominal) throw out be transmitted to humans. The close to predominant avian influenza computer virus in humans is the highly pathogenic avian Influenza A (H5N1) virus, which has caused over 380 substantiate cases in 15 countries (Rabinowitz, 2010). Majority of cases produce been transmitted via bird-to-human, with r be cases of human-to-human transmittal.Continued photograph to the virus not only poses the bane of ongoing morbidity and mortality, but also the terror of H5N1 being able to accommodate and change allowing preserve human-to-human transmitting. (Rabinowitz, 2010). Human pictorial matter to H5N1 begins with the natural military for the virus, cruel birds, which is and then transmitted to domestic birds, and then finally reaching humans as a host. Starting with wild birds, most commonly waterfowl, the virus lives in the intestines and is shed finished fecal matter, saliva, and nasal secretions.Most wild birds are resistant to contagions associated with avian influenza A. Wild birds are exposed to the virus when they come into attain with pollute nasal, respiratory, or fecal material from septic birds, most commonly fecal to oral transmission (Korteweg & Gu, 2010). Transmission to domestic birds, mainly poultry, faecal matter occur with direct come through with infect birds or indirect exposure through with(predicate) begrime dirt, c whiles, water, and feed. Domestic birds constitute fiddling to no resistance to the virus and hurt serious health issues, often resulting in death (Influenza Viruses, 2005).In the case a human is infected with H5N1, transmission routes are either through direct soupcon or indirect data link. Direct contact consists of people h honest-to-goding, catching, hunting, or playing with unknowingly infected birds. Slaughtering, defeathering, pr ocessing and preparing poultry for usage are other ways a soul can be infected through direct contact. Examples of indirect contact are touching contaminated surfaces and materials, locomote in or washing with contaminated water, living and working in areas with contaminated air, or ingesting the active virus in contaminated food (Rabinowitz, 2010).There is teeny evidence supporting human-to-human transmission and few cases ingest been confirmed. From what is known, intimate and close contact with infected individuals are possible routes of transmission (Avian Influenza A, 2005). The potential for H5N1 to develop into a strain easily transmissible from person to person in a sustained matter poses as a threat for a possible pandemic infection (Influenza Viruses, 2005). Signs and symptoms associated with H5N1 are much like those of the to a greater extent common seasonal flu virus fever, headache, sore throat, cough and rhinitis.Other symptoms include conjunctivitis, gastrointes tinal complications, shortness of breath, lower respiratory problems, rhinorrhea, myalgia, diarrhea, leukopenia, lymphophenia, impaired liver function, renal impairment, and protract blood clotting (Apisarnthanarak, 2004). As of frame in 2011, over 530 confirmed human cases of H5N1 have been found in 15 countries since 2003 (WHO reach 1), 85% occurring within Asian countries. Countries with the highest preponderance rates are Vietnam, Egypt, and Indonesia. Median age of those infected is 18 years old (Korteweg & Gu, 2010).A contributing behavioral actor associated with the disease being more normal in children and young adults is the age groups community in the slaughter, defeathering and cooking of poultry (Smallman-Raynor & Cliff, 2008). H5N1 had not been seen in humans prior to 1997, rootage presenting itself in China. The virus was then seen once again in humans in 2003, in Vietnam and again in China. By 2007, H5N1 had get around to Cambodia, Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Djib outi, Egypt, Iraq, Turkey, Laos, Myanmar, Nigeria and Pakistan (Smallman-Raynor & Cliff, 2008).The following public health organizations have been working closely together to steer and manoeuvre new-fangled outbreaks World wellness Organization (WHO), Organization for Animal health (OIE), and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (Smallman-Raynor & Cliff, 2008). WHO has been responsible for(p) for providing recent data and statistics regarding H5N1 in humans. Avian Influenza is covered by GAR, WHOs Global Outbreak Alert and answer Network, which is responsible for monitoring and keeping charge on the disease. OIE is responsible for reporting recent data relating specifically o outbreaks of avian influenza in animals. FAO, working collaboratively with OIE and WHO, sets the place setting for national and regional strategies, policies, programs and projects designed to tick off and prevent the disease (Strategy and Policy) from counterpaneing. According to a study by Smallm an-Raynor and Cliff (2008), fatality rates for H5N1 are greater than 50% in observed cases, which is much higher(prenominal) than the common flu virus. The virus has spread to over fifty countries on troika continents, being labeled as a panzootic disease (animal disease equivalent to a pandemic in humans).H5N1 first cover species barriers to humans in 1997 and has extended its host range to several other mammals, do severe disease and death. An approach to control the spread of this disease amongst birds has been culling of exposed birds, isolate and disinfecting. However, Avian Influenza continues to spread collect in part to migratory birds sightly infected (Smallman-Raynor & Cliff, 2008). The viruss cleverness to evolve poses as threat and is currently classified by WHO at physique 3 of the global pandemic brisk for influenza.