Lec 27 - avian influenza case study

Question 1

what does the H and N in the flu virus mean

Answer 1

H = hemagglutinin
N = neuraminidase

Question 2

what are hemagglutinin and neuraminidase

Answer 2

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

Question 3

what is AI

Answer 3

A type A RNA virus in the family Orthomyxoviridae

Question 4

what species can influenza A viruses infect

Answer 4

ducks, chickens, pigs, whales, horses, dogs and seals

Question 5

certain types of influenza A virus are specific to a certain species except for —–

Answer 5

Birds - which are hosts to all known subtypes of influenza A viruses

Question 6

the spread of avian influenza from one ill person to another has been reported ______

Answer 6

very rarely, and have been limited, inefficient and not sustained

Question 7

t/f because of the possibility that avian influenza A viruses could change and gain the ability to spread easily between people, monitoring for human infection and person to person transmission is extremely important for public health

Answer 7

true

Question 8

what species can be infected with avian influenza A virus in their intestines and resp track but usually do not get sick

Answer 8

wild aquatic birds

Question 9

what are the 2 main ways avian influenza A virus may be transmitted from animals to humans

Answer 9

• directly from birds or from avian influenza A virus- contaminated environments to people
• through an intermediate host, such as a pig

Question 10

T/F human infections with avian influenza viruses are rare

Answer 10

true

Question 11

when do most human cases of avian influenza occur

Answer 11

after people are in contact with an infected bird

Question 12

where was the most notable non-sustained person to person spread of avian influenza

Answer 12

with asian avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses reported primarily by 15 countries in asia, africa, the pacific, europe and the near east

Question 13

what is amplification

Answer 13

is when infectious agents multiply rapidly to high levels

Question 14

H5N1 outbreaks and bird flyways

Answer 14

?

Question 15

Avian influenza A virus are very/not very contagious among birds

Answer 15

very contagious - and come of these viruses can sicken and even kill certain domesticated bird species including chickens, ducks and turkeys.

Question 16

what is the plan for the future regarding preventing and responding to future HPAI cases, in collaboration with industry and state partners

Answer 16

• promoting improved on-farm biosecurity practices - in order to prevent future HPAI cases to the greatest extent possible
• improving HPAI surveillance - in wild birds as a means to provide “early warning” risk information to states and industry
• expanding federal, state and industry response capabilities - including availability of personnel, equipment, and depopulation, disposal and recovery options
• improving our capabilities to rapidly detect HPAI in domestic poultry - and to depopulate affected flocks within 24 hours to reduce the environmental load of HPAI viruses and their subsequent spread
• streamlining the processes for payment of indemnity - and the cost of elimination of viruses of that produces receive a fair amount quickly, to assist them in returning to production
• enhancing our ability to communicate - in a timely and effective way with producers, consumers, legislators, media, and others regarding outbreaks and other information
• making preparations to identify and deploy effective AI vaccines should be a cost beneficial addition to the eradication efforts in a future HPAI outbreak

Question 17

more than 47 billion birds have died due to infections and culling because of avian influenza which has caused

Answer 17

export bans, lowered egg and turkey production, and contributed to record prices of the staples ahead of the US holiday season. The outbreak exacerbates economic pain for consumers grappling with soaring inflation