27 Avian Influenza Case Study

Hemagglutinin

What does the H stand for in Influenza viruses?

Neuraminidase

What does the N stand for in Influenza viruses?

"H" and "N"

What two proteins are on the surface of the influenza virus that allow it to enter and exit host cells?

Type A RNA virus of the Orthomyxoviridae family

Describe Avian Influenza : type, family?

Birds

Certain subtypes of Influenza A virus are specific to certain species except what animal, which are hosts to all known subtypes of Influenza A viruses?

Very Rare

What is the spread of Avian Influenza Type A like from one ill person to another?

Wild aquatic birds

What types of birds can be infected with Avian Influenza A viruses in their intestines and respiratory tract, but do usually not get sick?

1. Directly from birds or from avian influenza A virus contaminated environments to people
2. Through an intermediate host such as pigs

In what two ways does Avian Influenza A virus transmit from animals to humans?

Avian influenza can mix with swine influenza or human influenza virus, creating a new/different combined virus from what we have seen before which may be more or less efficient compared to the virus before

What does it mean there is reassortment of Avian Influenza in swine and people?

FALSE: Human infections with avian influenza viruses are RARE and most often occur after people are in contact with an infected bird

TRUE OR FALSE: Human infection with avian influenza is very common and should be reported immediately.

We need to have "spillover" where a disease transmits from wild animal reservoirs to domestic animals to humans. After spillover occurs to humans, there is "amplification" of disease, where the infectious agent multiplies rapidly within the population

Describe spillover and amplification in communication with each other:

FALSE: Some people could be accidental hosts or incidental (such as people getting Avian Influenza), but just because there is spillover does not mean there will always be successful replication within the human species causing a lot of people to get sick.

TRUE OR FALSE: After spillover, amplification will always happen in a population.

The virus gets in their intestines and respiratory tract, but they usually do not get sick

What does Avian Influenza A virus typically look like in wild aquatic birds?

Wild aquatic birds

Avian influenza virus occurs naturally in what animal (natural reservoir)?

Avian Influenza A virus is VERY CONTAGIOUS among birds, some can sicken/kill domestic chicken, ducks, and turkey

Talk about the contagious aspect of Avian Influenza A virus:

H5N1 Asian Avian Influenza

What has been the most notable Avian Influenza virus, with outbreaks reported in 15 countries with non-sustained person to person spread?

Bird flyway pathways have a crossover with pandemic affected areas or other infected birds. So, if the birds mix with each other that gives the potential to bring the Influenza virus to places that were not previously exposed (such as America and Canada being exposed to Asian Influenza)

Why is it important to track major flyways when observing Avian Influenza, such as H5N1?

1. Improve on-farm biosecurity
2. Improve HAPI surveillance in wild birds
3. Expand Federal, State, and industry response capabilities
4. Improve capabilities to rapidly detect HPAI in domestic poultry
5. Streamline process for payment of indemnity
6. Enhance communication
7. Prepare to identify and deploy effective vaccines

What is the USDA's plan to prevent and respond to future HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) cases?

H5 HPAI in 2015`

What was the largest animal health incursion in the U.S. ever?

True

TRUE OR FALSE: Avian Influenza has been a major issue in the U.S. and the world since 2009 and has not diminished.

Resulted in 7.5 million turkey depopulations and 42.1 million egg-layer depopulations. Has costed poultry industry $390 million. Poultry owners had to apply for ID numbers.

Describe the effects Avian Influenza has had on the poultry industry:

Spanish Flu of 1918 was H1N1 Avian-like influenza, killing 50-100 million people, making it one of the deadliest disasters in history

Describe the effects Avian Influenza has had on human beings:

Egg prices skyrocket, U.S. poultry exports plunge. Has costed taxpayers over $950 million.

Describe the effects Avian Influenza has had on the economy:

Increased suicidal thoughts, nightmares, depression, during even six months after disaster event

Describe the psychological effects Avian Influenza has had on veterinarians: