What Is Pathogenic Avian Influenza?

Abstract. Highly pathogenic (HP)

avian influenza

(AI) (HPAI) is an extremely contagious, multi-organ systemic disease of poultry leading to high mortality, and caused by some H5 and H7 subtypes of type A

influenza virus

, family Orthomyxoviridae.

Is avian influenza harmful to humans?

Although avian (bird) influenza (flu) A viruses usually do not infect people, there have been some rare cases of human infection with these viruses Illness in humans from bird flu virus infections have ranged in severity from no symptoms or mild illness to severe disease that resulted in death.

What does highly pathogenic mean?

The designation of low or highly pathogenic avian influenza refers to the potential for these viruses to kill chickens The designation of “low pathogenic” or “highly pathogenic” does not refer to how infectious the viruses may be to humans, other mammals, or other species of birds.

How is highly pathogenic avian influenza spread?

Infected birds can shed avian influenza A viruses in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Susceptible birds become infected when they have contact with the virus as it is shed by infected birds. They also can become infected through contact with surfaces that are contaminated with virus from infected birds.

What is meant by the term pathogenic?

Definition of pathogenic 1 : pathogenetic sense 1. 2 : causing or capable of causing disease.

Is H5N1 highly pathogenic?

The Avian influenza A subtype H5N1 is a highly pathogenic (HPAI) strain of the virus that has been confirmed in poultry populations across Asia, Russia and some southern European countries. Although this is a disease of birds it has been shown in S.E. Asia that it can (although rarely) be transmitted to humans.

Is avian flu a coronavirus?

Abstract. Avian influenza A (H5N1) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus are infections that cause a severe viral pneumonia leading to acute respiratory dysfunction syndrome and carry a high case-fatality rate.

Can you eat eggs from chickens with avian flu?

All poultry products for public consumption are inspected for signs of disease both before and after slaughter. The “inspected for wholesomeness by the U.S. Department of Agriculture” seal ensures the poultry is free from visible signs of disease. prepared and cooked poultry and eggs are safe to eat.

Can you get avian flu from eating chicken?

You cannot get bird flu from eating fully cooked chicken , turkey, or duck, because heat kills the virus. In a few cases, bird flu was passed from one person to another person, not from a bird to a person. But this was very rare.

What is the difference between influenza and avian influenza?

Avian flu and pandemic flu are not the same thing. Avian influenza, or “bird flu”, is a virus that affects birds. Pandemic flu is human flu that would affect millions of people all around the world Very rarely, an avian flu virus will infect a person.

What are some examples of pathogenic viruses?

  • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV): Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV and AIDS).
  • Influenza virus: Flu, viral pneumonia.
  • Norovirus: Stomach flu.
  • Ebolavirus: Ebola.
  • Varicella-Zoster virus (VZV): Chickenpox.

Can you eat birds with avian influenza?

To date, the avian influenza strains detected within the United States, including the H7N3 strain, have not been found to be transmissible to humans. Properly cooked poultry and eggs are safe to eat Birds from the involved flocks will not enter the food system.

Which influenza is most pathogenic?

Highly pathogenic* avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus occurs mainly in birds, is highly contagious among birds, and can be deadly, especially in domestic poultry. Since December 2003, an Asian HPAI H5N1 virus has resulted in high mortality in poultry and

wild birds

in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.

Is avian bird flu airborne?

Airborne transmission of bird flu from wild birds to poultry is negligible , says new research. New research from Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR) has demonstrated that the risk of airborne transmission of the hi-path avian influenza virus from

infected wild waterfowl

to poultry is negligible.

Is bird flu airborne or droplet?

Airborne transmission of High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) viruses can occur among poultry and from poultry to humans during home or live-poultry market slaughter of infected poultry.

What animals are affected by avian flu?

Domestic poultry, ducks, geese, turkeys, guinea fowl, quail, pheasants, emus and ostriches are most susceptible to being affected by avian influenza. Many species of wild birds, including waterfowl and seabirds can carry the virus but usually show no signs of disease.

What animals can get avian flu?

Avian infuenza primarily affects wild and domestic bird species. Waterfowl can carry the disease without becoming sick. Poultry are very susceptible to the disease and can die in large numbers. Some strains of the virus can affect mammals, such as pigs, cats, horses, dogs and ferrets.

Is avian flu contagious to other animals?

Avian influenza A (bird flu) viruses may be transmitted from infected birds to other animals , and potentially to humans, in two main ways: Directly from infected birds or from avian influenza A virus-contaminated environments. Through an intermediate host, such as another animal.

Is there a vaccine for H5N1 virus?

Influenza A (H5N1) vaccine is used for active immunization to prevent disease caused by the influenza A virus H5N1 subtype in patients over 6 months of age at increased risk of exposure. Influenza A (H5N1) vaccine is available under the following different brand names: Audenz.

How many have died from H5N1?

To date, the number of H5N1 WHO-confirmed human cases amounts to 628 with 374 deaths from 15 countries. Human infections tend to occur during December–March and are associated with bird migratory paths and seasonal outbreaks in poultry.

Is there a vaccine for bird flu?

While avian flu vaccines are currently available , they are not being used on a large scale on poultry farms because this hinders the ability to conduct surveillance testing, which helps detect the virus in unvaccinated flocks and limit the spread of the disease.

When considering highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza What are risk factors for zoonotic transmission?

Zoonotic transmission to humans from infected birds occurs either directly or through environmental contamination Hence, almost all human infections have been related to close contact with infected or sick birds or their faecal products in domestic settings, e.g. in ‘wet markets’ in Asia or in backyard farming [3].

What are the 4 types of pathogens?

Pathogen types. There are different types of pathogens, but we’re going to focus on the four most common types: viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites.

Can humans be infected with H5N1?

Transmission from birds to humans is infrequent and no sustained human-to-human transmission has been observed , however it can cause severe disease in humans. The A(H5N1) virus has only sporadically been detected in European poultry or wild birds.

What is an example of a pathogenic?

What are pathogens? Pathogens include viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites that invade the body and can cause health issues. Anthrax, HIV, Epstein-Barr virus, and the Zika virus , among many others are examples of pathogens that cause serious diseases.

What is the meaning of pathogenic virus?

Pathogenic is a medical term that describes viruses, bacteria, and other types of germs that can cause some kind of disease The flu, various parasites, and athlete’s foot fungus are all considered to be pathogenic.

What is the difference between H1N1 and H5N1?

Similarly, an “A(H5N1)” virus has an HA 5 protein and an NA 1 protein All known subtypes of influenza A viruses can infect birds, except subtypes A(H17N10) and A(H18N11), which have only been found in bats. Only two influenza A virus subtypes A(H1N1)pdm09, and A(H3N2), are currently circulating among people.

Why is H5N1 so concerning?

H5N1 infection in humans can cause severe disease and has a high mortality rate If the H5N1 virus were to change and become easily transmissible from person to person while retaining its capacity to cause severe disease, the consequences for public health could be very serious.

What is H5N1 also known as?

Bird flu, also called avian influenza , is a viral infection that can infect not only birds, but also humans and other animals. Most forms of the virus are restricted to birds. H5N1 is the most common form of bird flu.

Is H1N1 a bird flu?

A: In the last decade we’ve really had two major circulating forms of virus that we’re particularly concerned about — that is the avian flu, or bird flu, and the swine H1N1 virus. They are both influenza A viruses, but in terms of their genetic makeup and how they behave they are very, very different infections.

What type of virus is H5N1?

H5N1 is a highly pathogenic avian (bird) flu virus that has caused serious outbreaks in domestic poultry in parts of Asia and the Middle East. Since its widespread re-emergence in 2003, rare, sporadic human infections with this virus have been reported in Asia, and later in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.

How long can avian flu virus survive?

The virus can live for up to one month inside a poultry house at 40 ºF AI virus has also been found to survive in lakes (where waterfowl usually congregate) for over 30 days at freezing temperatures.

Is it safe to buy chicken?

Whatever bird you buy, one slipup and you’re at risk Most important is to cook chicken to at least 165° F. Even if it’s no longer pink, it can still harbor bacteria, so use a meat thermometer. The Polder THM-360, $30, and Taylor Weekend Warrior 806, $16, were excellent in our tests.

Is avian flu worse than normal flu?

Oct 11, 2005 (CIDRAP News) – A recent and extensive review of research on H5N1 avian influenza in humans shows the illness differs from ordinary flu in several ways, besides the most obvious fact that it is far more deadly.

What are the symptoms of avian flu in humans?

Avian Flu Symptoms in Humans Range from fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches to nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, eye infections, difficulty breathing, pneumonia and severe respiratory diseases.

References


https://www.usgs.gov/centers/nwhc/science/distribution-highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-north-america-20212022


https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10935274/


https://www.agriculture.ks.gov/divisions-programs/division-of-animal-health/animal-diseases/avian-influenza


https://extension.psu.edu/avian-influenza


https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/avian-in-humans.htm