Recreated influenza virions from the 1918 flu that killed an estimated 50 million people. The number of humans confirmed killed by the bird flu strain called H5N1 topped 100 today, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). There have been no confirmed human deaths in the West from the avian flu.
The 2009 swine flu outbreak originated in Veracruz, Mexico. Health workers traced the virus to a pig farm in this southeastern Mexican state. A young boy who lived nearby was among the first people to contract the swine flu.
The most recent pandemic occurred in 2009 and was caused by an influenza A (H1N1) virus. It is estimated to have caused between 100 000 and 400 000 deaths globally in the first year alone.
nothing happened. The virus continued to kill chickens and to occasionally infect and sometimes kill people. But as the years passed, the number of human H5N1 cases subsided. There has not been a single H5N1 human infection detected since February 2017.
Since its discovery in 1976, the majority of cases and outbreaks of Ebola Virus Disease have occurred in Africa. The 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa began in a rural setting of southeastern Guinea, spread to urban areas and across borders within weeks, and became a global epidemic within months.
According to the US Department of Agriculture, close to eight million cases of bird flu have been detected in 13 states since December. Health officials say there is little to no risk for transmission to humans with respect to H5N2. No human infections with the virus have ever been detected.
Between 1959 and 1995, there were 15 recorded occasions of the emergence of HPAI viruses in poultry, but losses were minimal. Between 1996 and 2008 however, HPAI outbreaks in poultry have occurred at least 11 times and 4 of these outbreaks have involved millions of birds.
The CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO) currently recommend antiviral drugs oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) for the treatment and prevention of avian influenza A viruses along with supportive care. Currently, there is no vaccine to protect against H7N9 types of bird flu.
In 1997, avian influenza virus (H5N1) caused severe human disease in Hong Kong. One of 9 infected children and 5 of 9 infected adults died. Investigators hypothesized that this virus is lethal because it induces an unusually potent proinflammatory cytokine response.
Things you can do to prevent 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.
Unlike type A flu viruses, type B flu is found only in humans. Type B flu may cause a less severe reaction than type A flu virus, but occasionally, type B flu can still be extremely harmful.
Jan. 16, 2020 -- Influenza is still going strong in the United States and isn't expected to slow down for at least several more weeks, according to a report from the CDC. What's more, this season's vaccine is only a 58% match for the B strain of flu, known as B/Victoria, that is hitting children especially hard.
What is swine flu? Swine influenza, known as swine flu, influenza A (H1N1) or pandemic (H1N1) influenza 2009, is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses, most commonly the H1N1 subtype. Regular outbreaks of swine flu occur in pigs year round, and cases have been transmitted to humans.
Influenza A is the most common, followed by influenza B. The flu is different from the common cold. It can cause severe illness and worsen some chronic medical conditions, such as asthma, heart disease, and diabetes. In some cases, it can lead to death.
Adults are most contagious with the flu from 24 hours before symptoms start to three to five days afterward. Children can spread the virus for longer—up to 10 days, and sometimes even beyond that. People who have serious immune system problems can spread influenza for weeks, or even months, after they get it.
You're probably at least vaguely aware that there are different strains of the flu. Because there's more than one kind of flu, it's always possible to get the flu twice (in fact, it's possible to be infected with two flu viruses at the same time)—it's just very rare.
