AVIAN INFLUENZA A (H5N1) VIRUS: A BRIEF REVIEW

Abstract

ABSTRACTSudden emergence and re-emergence of new viral diseases in human beings has surprisedthe medical scientists from time to time. “Avian influenza” or “Bird flu” caused by H5N1epidemics is one such surprise. Since their reemergence in 2003, highly pathogenic avianinfluenza A (H5N1) viruses have reached endemic levels among poultry in severalSoutheast Asian countries and have caused a still increasing number of more than 100reported human infections with high mortality. These developments have ignited globalfears of an imminent influenza pandemic. Scientific data to date showed some strains ofavian influenza viruses including H5N1 are capable of going through mutations to developinto a novel, pandemic strain of influenza virus. This article reviews information about themorphology, genes and proteins, receptor specificity, epidemiology, transmission, clinicalfeatures, laboratory diagnosis, treatment and vaccination of human influenza H5N1 virus.

Keywords

avian, influenza.