Bird flu pandemic
The following information was posted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and is the best description of a bird flu pandemic that we have seen so far.
"Avian influenza refers to a large group of different influenza viruses that primarily affect birds. On rare occasions, these bird viruses can infect other species, including pigs and humans. The vast majority of avian influenza viruses do not infect humans. An influenza pandemic happens when a new subtype emerges that has not previously circulated in humans. For this reason, avian H5N1 is a strain with pandemic potential, since it might ultimately adapt into a strain that is contagious among humans. Once this adaptation occurs, it will no longer be a bird virus--it will be a human influenza virus. Influenza pandemics are caused by new influenza viruses that have adapted to humans.
Influenza pandemics are recurring events.
An influenza pandemic is a rare but recurrent event. Three pandemics occurred in the previous century: “Spanish influenza” in 1918, “Asian influenza” in 1957, and “Hong Kong influenza” in 1968. The 1918 pandemic killed an estimated 40–50 million people worldwide. That pandemic, which was exceptional, is considered one of the deadliest disease events in human history. Subsequent pandemics were much milder, with an estimated 2 million deaths in 1957 and 1 million deaths in 1968. A pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges and starts spreading as easily as normal influenza – by coughing and sneezing. Because the virus is new, the human immune system will have no pre-existing immunity. This makes it likely that people who contract pandemic influenza will experience more serious disease than that caused by normal influenza.
The world may be on the brink of a bird flu pandemic.
Health experts have been monitoring a new and extremely severe influenza virus – the H5N1 strain – for almost eight years. The H5N1 strain first infected humans in Hong Kong in 1997, causing 18 cases, including six deaths. Since mid-2003, this virus has caused the largest and most severe outbreaks in poultry on record. In December 2003, infections in people exposed to sick birds were identified. Since then, over 100 human cases have been laboratory confirmed in four Asian countries (Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Viet Nam), and more than half of these people have died. Most cases have occurred in previously healthy children and young adults. Fortunately, the virus does not jump easily from birds to humans or spread readily and sustainably among humans. Should H5N1 evolve to a form as contagious as normal influenza, a bird flu pandemic could begin.
All countries will be affected.
Once a fully contagious virus emerges, its global spread is considered inevitable. Countries might, through measures such as border closures and travel restrictions, delay arrival of the virus, but cannot stop it. The pandemics of the previous century encircled the globe in 6 to 9 months, even when most international travel was by ship. Given the speed and volume of international air travel today, the virus could spread more rapidly, possibly reaching all continents in less than 3 months.
Widespread illness will occur.
Because most people will have no immunity to the bird flu pandemic virus, infection and illness rates are expected to be higher than during seasonal epidemics of normal influenza. Current projections for the next pandemic estimate that a substantial percentage of the world’s population will require some form of medical care. Few countries have the staff, facilities, equipment, and hospital beds needed to cope with large numbers of people who suddenly fall ill.
WHO will alert the world when the bird flu pandemic threat increases.
WHO works closely with ministries of health and various public health organizations to support countries' surveillance of circulating influenza strains. A sensitive surveillance system that can detect emerging influenza strains is essential for the rapid detection of a pandemic virus. Six distinct phases have been defined to facilitate pandemic preparedness planning, with roles defined for governments, industry, and WHO. The present situation is categorized as phase 3: a virus new to humans is causing infections, but does not spread easily from one person to another."
Below the list are the most up-to-date news headlines relating to the bird flu pandemic threat
| bird flu pandemic - Google News | ||
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A century ago, the Spanish flu killed 100 million people. Is a new pandemic on the way? - New Statesman
Sat, 21 Apr 2018 10:23:45 GMT
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The 1918 influenza pandemic affected the whole world. Could it happen again? - ABC Online
Thu, 12 Apr 2018 23:06:00 GMT
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Did the 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic Originate in China? - The News Lens International
Wed, 18 Apr 2018 04:01:28 GMT
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A century after the Spanish flu, are we ready for another pandemic? - The Sydney Morning Herald
Thu, 19 Apr 2018 07:05:52 GMT
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Zombie Apocalypse in the Arctic - Anchorage Press
Thu, 19 Apr 2018 09:45:13 GMT
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Bird flu in Kalapani under control - Kuensel, Buhutan's National Newspaper
Mon, 26 Mar 2018 10:21:06 GMT
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New viruses found - Independent
Wed, 11 Apr 2018 09:16:37 GMT
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New bird flu virus H6N2 comes to roost - Times of India
Mon, 02 Apr 2018 05:52:42 GMT
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Zoonotic Threats: As Unpredictable as They Are Dangerous - Contagionlive.com
Thu, 29 Mar 2018 15:05:19 GMT
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“There's no equality in healthcare”: Working under the shadow of Ireland's 8th - New Statesman
Wed, 18 Apr 2018 12:16:11 GMT
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