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Avian Influenza. - The Human Health Perspective Dr. Andrew Larder FRCPC. Overview. Influenza – the virus Why you should be concerned Why I am concerned What we can do. Basic Influenza Facts. Human vs. Avian Influenza. Overview. Influenza – the virus Why you should be concerned
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Avian Influenza - The Human Health Perspective Dr. Andrew Larder FRCPC
Overview • Influenza – the virus • Why you should be concerned • Why I am concerned • What we can do
Overview • Influenza – the virus • Why you should be concerned • Why I am concerned • What we can do
Avian Influenza and Human Exposure • Poultry exquisitely susceptible • Large numbers of birds in confined spaces – Petri dish • Vast numbers of virus particles • Secretions, feathers, litter, walls, dust • Genetically diverse
Avian Influenza and Human Disease • Infected poultry spread avian viruses to poultry workers • Multiple viruses can cause human illness • Both HP and LP can cause illness • Serious illness and person to person spread can occur
Overview • Influenza – the virus • Why you should be concerned • Why I am concerned • What we can do
Pandemic Influenza an epidemic occurring world-wide, or over a very large area, affecting a large number of people • Novel virus • Frequent human exposure • No previous immunity • Ability to cause illness • Ability to spread person to person efficiently
Influenza Pandemics Through the Ages Asian H2N2 SAR = 67%, CAR = 31% Case fatality = 0.5% Deaths = 3-7 million Hong Kong H3N2 SAR = 65%, CAR = 21% Case fatality = 0.2% Deaths = 1-3 million Spanish H1N1 Case fatality = 3.25% Deaths = 20-50 million Average Interval Between Pandemics = 39 years (95% CI 8-70 years)
Pandemic – A Possible Scenario • PW exposed to large numbers of genetically shifting AI • PW and families become infected • Human infections allow adaptation to human host • increasing ability to infect, and spread person to person • PW and families disseminate pandemic strain to population at large
Pandemic – It Will Happen • When • Where • Which Virus • Who • How Severe • Utility of antivirals • Effectiveness of vaccine
What Can We Do? • The canary in the coal mine approach OR • Be aggressively proactive • Stop poultry from getting infected • Prevent PW from getting infected with AI • PPE, antiviral medications, vaccination, surveillance