Highly Pathogenic Avian Flu A(H5N1): State of Affairs in 2009–2012 and Forecast of Its Pandemic Potential

Abstract

Avian flu is an infectious viral disease in birds that still retains its positions in some parts of Asia and Africa. This review contains summarization and analysis of facts regarding the current situation on highly pathogenic avian flu A-type subtype H5N1 among people and animals for the period of the past four years. Excess incidence rate in 2009 in Egypt, as well as cluster cases of the disease in humans, closely related in time and space, virus mutations as it spreads all over the world and diversification of the host specter, testify of the fact that this agent possesses significant pandemic potential and requires continuous close attention to provide for the well-timed detection of the occurring epidemiological, clinical and virological changes.

Keywords

• высокопатогенный грипп птиц
• h5n1
• пандемический потенциал
• трансмиссивность
• популяционный иммунитет
• highly pathogenic avian flu
• h5n1
• pandemic potential
• transmissibility
• population immunity