The World Health Organization and the World Organisation for Animal Health have developed a global strategy to prevent the H5N1 avian influenza from evolving into a pandemic, which includes several noteworthy pieces of information regarding the virus’s transmission.
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6-year-old Mutiara Gayatri, who contracted avian influenza, has recovered after a period of treatment at a hospital in Jakarta. |
– The virus is transmitted through secretions from the nose, mouth, and feces.
– Humans can become infected through prolonged close contact with infected poultry, often in confined spaces, or when the virus adheres to surfaces contaminated with poultry secretions and feces.
– In Asia, patients mostly have direct contact with the virus through slaughtering, plucking, and cooking infected poultry.
– Among the avian influenza strains that have crossed the species barrier to humans, H5N1 is the most virulent and deadly. After infection, victims rapidly become weakened, and the mortality rate is high due to pneumonia and multiple organ failure.
– The H5N1 avian influenza virus is currently relatively hard to transmit from birds to humans. In Asia, there have been at least 123 reported infections and over 60 fatalities, but this region also sees frequent close contact between humans and livestock.
– H5N1 is lethal to poultry (capable of wiping out an entire flock within hours) but is less virulent to wild ducks and geese. Therefore, wild waterfowl serve as a reservoir for the virus without showing symptoms and can fly long distances.
– Although the virus can persist in tissues, there is no evidence that poultry or properly cooked eggs are sources of transmission. Virulent strains of H5 and H7 can be inactivated by heat (60 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes) and pH acidification.
– All species of poultry are susceptible to avian influenza, and some other animals, such as pigs, can also be infected, albeit less commonly.
– Migratory birds are responsible for spreading the virus from Asia and Siberia to Romania and Turkey. However, in Asia, the live poultry trade remains a key factor.
– In 2003, a mild strain of avian influenza virus attacked the Netherlands. Although this was a typical strain not dangerous to humans, a veterinarian who had prolonged contact with infected poultry died.
– The H5 and H7 subtypes of the avian influenza virus can be low or high in virulence; however, the detection of the H5 strain does not necessarily indicate it is H5N1.
M.L (according to Reuters)