Pandemic Why a Global Influenza Pandemic is Not a Cause for Concern Ted Espenschied Background Influenza Influenza is an infectious disease common to birds and mammals caused by a family of RNA viruses Common symptoms of influenza include fever sore throat muscle ache headaches and respiratory impairment Influenza itself is not a lethal pathogen however when a flu patient contracts pneumonia death can occur Transmission Influenza is a contagious disease that is spread by respiratory aerosols An infected person discharges viruses particles with each cough or sneeze Many healthy adults can be contagious for up to 1 full day before they experience symptoms An infected individual can be contagious for up to 5 days after the onset of symptoms Seasonality Centers for Disease Control Influenza The Disease http www cdc gov flu about disease htm Who is Vulnerable Anyone can get the flu during any flu season People 65 and older as well as individuals with chronic medical conditions are especially vulnerable Very young children whose lungs and immune system are not fully developed are also vulnerable The CDC estimates that between 5 and 20 of the U S population contracts the flu every year An average of 36 000 people die from influenza in the U S every year More than 200 000 must be hospitalized Context History Past Pandemics It is difficult to determine if past pandemics were cause by the influenza virus Many other diseases diphtheria typhoid fever and pneumonic plague share similar symptoms Most infamous epidemic 1918 1919 Spanish Flu Current estimates are that 50 to 100 million people died worldwide Extremely high infection rate 50 Killed between 2 and 20 of those infected typical flu mortality rate 0 1 Unusual for influenza this pandemic killed mostly young adults Avian Bird Flu Avian Influenza is an infectious disease of birds especially domestic birds poultry There are two forms mild common and extremely lethal rare Highly pathogenic forms H5 and H7 subtypes Spread wild waterfowl infect domestic flocks with highly pathogenic H5N1 strains Associated with heightened risk of human exposure and infections Avian Flu Cont d However Influenza viruses are normally very species specific spillover is rare H5N1 has the most potential to harm humans Has jumped species 3 times in recent history 1997 2003 and 2004 Has the potential to go global 2 Mechanisms for improving transmissibility to people jumping the species gap Reassortment exchange of genes with human flu virus during co infection Gradual process of adaptive mutation So Why Shouldn t We Worry Vaccinations Treatment According to the CDC the single best way to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated each year Flu Shot good for about 6 months LAIV Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine Nasal Spray Each vaccine contains 3 types of virus 2 A viruses H3N2 H1N1 and 1 B virus People at high risk or people exposed to high risk individuals The effectiveness of the vaccine depends on the age and health of the individual as well as on the similarity to the virus strains in circulation Anti viral medication Antibiotics fight secondary infection e g pneumonia The Respiratory Viruses section of The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease part of the NIH is developing vaccines for all 16 of the hemaglutinin proteins the H in HxNy found in waterfowl virus type A Monitoring The CDC collects flu data year round During the flu season the CDC reports on influenza activity each week from October through March every year Viral surveillance in labs across the U S Sentinel physician surveillance Mortality surveillance State epidemiological reports Influenza associated pediatric mortality and hospitalizations According to the website www pandemicflu gov the U S is at Stage 0 with no cases of domestic animal outbreaks of avian flu The world is at Phase 3 No or very limited human to human transmission Julie Louise Gerberding M D MPH Director of the CDC Global Monitoring The WHO is keeping track of incidents and is characterizing the H5N1 Avian Influenza strain Pandemic Preparedness Plan Reduce Human Exposure to H5N1 Strong Early Warning Systems Intense Rapid Containment Operations Global Capacity to Cope with Pandemic Coordination of Global Influenza Research Adequate Response The WHO has an effective response protocol for instances of highly infectious avian flu Rapid culling Proper carcass disposal Quarantining and disinfection of farms Strict Biosecurity sanitary measures Restrictions on the movement of poultry especially between countries Vaccination as a supplementary emergency measure Larger Problems Other lethal infectious diseases Ebola HIV AIDS Respiratory sincytial virus RSV Most common cause of severe respiratory illness in children Leading cause of death by respiratory illness in individuals 65 In the grand scheme of things there are far more pressing issues in the realm of global health with respect to infectious disease as well as other health hazards Influenza at UNC Flu vaccine according to the Campus Health website the vaccine is 75 90 effective The Influenza vaccine is 1 of 8 recommended vaccinations for college students among Hepatitis A and B HPV Meningococcal Mumps Whooping Cough and Chicken Pox Campus Health provides up to date information to students about recognizing preventing and managing the flu on campus every year Mary Covington MD Assistant Vice Chancellor for Campus Health Services Media Hype Where is this bird flu I ve been waiting for four years now It s limited occurrence has been confined to Asia and Africa and has never been found in the U S So is bird flu the disease of the moment Evolution 2 Perspectives Influenza Virus If a strain of the influenza virus becomes too lethal it will eventually kill off its host species and it too will die In the framework of evolution and propagation of the species this is unfavorable People A strong new driver for natural selection An evolutionary push to become a more fit species Benefits Environmental reduce the human burden on natural systems Ecological is the earth at carrying capacity for Homo sapiens given our current technological advancements Economic greater availability of resources and raw materials Sources Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Institute of Health World Health Organization http www ifpma org influenza content images diagram vir us thumb jp http www3 niaid nih gov healthscience healthtopics Flu de fault htm http www pandemicflu gov index