Bird Flu
This page on HealthBasics.info is about bird flu (avian influenza). Bird flu is a contagious viral infection first identified in Italy in the early 1900s. It occurs worldwide and all birds are susceptible to infection by it. Migratory birds, especially wild ducks, are the natural reservoir of avian influenza viruses and domestic poultry flocks are particularly susceptible to infections that can rapidly turn into epidemics. In the EU, recent major outbreaks of a highly pathogenic avian flu H7N7 occurred in Italy (1999-2000) and the Netherlands, with incidences in Belgium and Germany (2003). The H5N1 is a highly pathogenic avian influenza strain causing serious disease with high mortality (up to 100%) and its occurrence in the world needs to be notified to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
From avian influenza to human influenza pandemic
Humans are rarely affected by the avian influenza but human infections with the highly pathogenic viruses may be fatal. Limited human-to-human transmission of H5N1 has occurred in association with outbreaks in poultry. Each new human case gives the virus an opportunity to improve its transmissibility in humans and thus to develop into a pandemic virus. Therefore, avoiding bird flu outbreaks and eradicating them as soon as possible is of the outmost importance.
As flu viruses mutate easily and exchange genetic material when they co-infect an animal the current fear is that a common human flu virus and the bird flu virus H5N1 could mix genes and create a new type of lethal human bird flu virus.
Influenza pandemic
Historically, influenza pandemics occur on average three to four times each century, but the occurrence of pandemics is unpredictable. In the 20th century, the (Spanish) influenza pandemic of 1918–1919 caused up to 50 million deaths worldwide and was followed by pandemics in 1957–58 and 1968–69. Experts agree that another influenza pandemic is inevitable and possibly imminent.
Tamiflu
Tamiflu, known as oseltamivir, is currently considered as the most effective antiviral drug available for avian influenza. This drug, produced by Roche, is recommended by the WHO to be stockpiled in preparation for a flu pandemic. Tamiflu does not cure a flu infection but might prevent illness from developing. Its effectiveness against H5N1 is unknown although laboratory tests suggest that if taken in higher doses, it should have some effect. At all there are 4 influenza drugs: amantadine and rimantadine which help fight certain strains of H5N1 infections, and Tamiflu® and Relenza® which are both drugs classified as neuraminidase inhibitors and are said to help against most strains of H5N1 virus.
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