How is H5N1 detected?
Current methods employed to detect H5N1 subtypes include various polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays [10–12, 7] and antigen tests using various fluorescence and enzyme-linked immunoassays [9].
What is H5N1 virus Wikipedia?
H5N1 is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus of the genus Alphainfluenzavirus of the family Orthomyxoviridae. Like all other influenza A subtypes, the H5N1 subtype is an RNA virus. It has a segmented genome of eight negative sense, single-strands of RNA, abbreviated as PB2, PB1, PA, HA, NP, NA, MP and NS.
What is H5N1 strain?
The term “bird flu” or “avian influenza” refers to influenza strains that affect birds. One particular avian strain, known as H5N1, has caused severe illness in birds in recent years.
What is the difference between avian influenza and bird flu?
Avian influenza or bird flu refers to the disease caused by infection with avian (bird) influenza (flu) Type A viruses. These viruses naturally spread among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species. Bird flu viruses do not normally infect humans.
Is there a vaccine for H5N1?
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.
Can H5N1 infect humans?
During past H5N1 bird flu virus outbreaks that have occurred in poultry globally, human infections were rare. Globally since 2003, 19 countries have reported rare, sporadic human infections with H5N1 bird flu viruses to the World Health Organization (WHO). Monthly case counts are available on the WHO website .
What causes H5N1?
H5N1 occurs naturally in wild waterfowl, but it can spread easily to domestic poultry. The disease is transmitted to humans through contact with infected bird feces, nasal secretions, or secretions from the mouth or eyes.
Why is it called H5N1?
The name H5N1 refers to the subtypes of surface antigens present on the virus: hemagglutinin type 5 and neuraminidase type 1. Genotype Z of H5N1 is now the dominant genotype of H5N1.
Where is H5N1 found?
Highly pathogenic H5N1 has been found in birds in the wild in numerous other countries: Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Greece, Iran, Italy, Poland, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
What is the cause of avian influenza?
Bird flu occurs naturally in wild waterfowl and can spread into domestic poultry, such as chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese. The disease is transmitted via contact with an infected bird’s feces, or secretions from its nose, mouth or eyes.
What causes avian influenza in poultry?
Avian Influenza in Poultry (Domesticated Birds)
may become infected with avian influenza A viruses through direct contact with infected waterfowl or other infected poultry, or through contact with surfaces that have been contaminated with the viruses.
How Can H5N1 be prevented?
Do not visit poultry farms, bird markets and other places where live poultry are raised, kept, or sold, if possible. Do not eat raw or undercooked poultry products and wash your hands after touching uncooked poultry. Practice good hygiene and cleanliness. Visit a doctor if you become sick during or after travel.
What kills avian flu virus?
The proper handling and cooking of poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165˚F kills bacteria and viruses, including H5N1 bird flu viruses.
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.
What organs are affected by avian flu?
In humans the trachea, brain, and intestines may be infected in addition to the lungs. It appears that the virus may also spread to other organs, such as the kidneys and liver, as has also been demonstrated in animals.
Is H5N1 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.
How does H5N1 virus affect humans?
H5N1 influenza appears to be a systemic infection in both human and animal cases. In humans the trachea, brain, and intestines may be infected in addition to the lungs. It appears that the virus may also spread to other organs, such as the kidneys and liver, as has also been demonstrated in animals.
How can we prevent avian influenza?
What causes avian flu?
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.
Is H5N1 contagious to humans?
No known human-to-human spread has occurred with the A(H5N1) virus that is currently circulating in birds in the United States and globally. During past H5N1 bird flu virus outbreaks that have occurred in poultry globally, human infections were rare.
How can we prevent the spread of bird flu?
wash your hands often with warm water and soap, especially before and after handling food, in particular raw poultry. use different utensils for cooked and raw meat. make sure meat is cooked until steaming hot. avoid contact with live birds and poultry.