Stopping Spread of Bird Flu Virus Decreases Potential Threat to Humans
Council for Agricultural Science and Technology releases new commentary assessing the potential for an avian influenza human pandemic.
Compiled by staff
Published: Jan 20, 2006
Over the past several months the reported number of bird deaths and subsequent human deaths resulting from exposure to influenza A-infected birds has increased, making front-page news worldwide. In response to heightened concern about the possibility of a resultant influenza pandemic, a new commentary from the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology says the quick eradication of the disease in poultry will prevent a deadly mutated strain being transmissible by human to human.
The commentary, Avian Influenza: Human Pandemic Concerns, says the likelihood that the next human influenza pandemic will emerge from the bird influenza circulating in Asia remains unknown, and because this bird influenza virus remains primarily an animal disease, there is hope that a pandemic can be prevented.
But according to Task Force Coauthor Dr. Donna K. Carver, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, "Every new poultry infection, and subsequent human exposure, gives this virus an opportunity to exchange genetic material with other influenza viruses and increases the chances that the bird influenza will become a significant human disease."
The authors suggest that stopping the spread of this virus will decrease the opportunity for the virus to adapt to humans, and eradication needs to occur at the farm level in the countries where it is currently circulating. "Funding of prevention, surveillance, and eradication efforts in the at-risk countries will provide tools needed to facilitate the eradication process of the virus where it is detected and will prevent further spread and subsequent economic loss," says Dr. Elizabeth A. Krushinskie of the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association, Task Force Coauthor.
"CAST's new Commentary also evaluates the structure and function of AI viruses as they impact human cases of influenza, outlines pandemic risk assessment, and provides references for further information," concludes CAST Executive Vice President John M. Bonner.
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