Avian Influenza
| A | H1N1 | |
| B |
H5N1 |
|
| C |
H2N1 |
|
| D |
H4N1 |
The 1997 bird flu pandemic was caused by which of the following strain?
| A |
H1N1 |
|
| B |
H5N1 |
|
| C |
H2N1 |
|
| D |
H4N1 |
Human infections with avian influenza H5N1 was first reported in Hong Kong in 1997.
Ref: Epidemiology of communicable diseases
Park’s textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 21stedition, page-330.
Avian influenza is treated by-
| A |
Amantadine |
|
| B |
Ribavarin |
|
| C |
Interferon |
|
| D |
Oseltamivir |
Ans. is ‘d’ i.e., Oseltamivir
o Avian influenza or bird flu is a contagious disease of animal caused by viruses that normally infect only birds and less commonly pigs.
o On rare occaions, avian influenza viruses cross the species barrier to infect humans.
o Two drugs are commonly used for avian influenza :- i) Oseltamivir, ii) Zonamivir
o Both of these are neuraminidase inhibitors.
| A |
Intranasal |
|
| B |
Intramuscular |
|
| C |
Subcutaneous |
|
| D |
Intradermal |
Ans. is ‘b’ i.e., Intramuscular
Vaccine Avian Influenza:
- On April 17, 2007, FDA licensed the first vaccine in the United States for the prevention of H5N1 influenza, commonly referred to as avian influenza or “bird flu”.
- This inactivated influenza virus vaccine is for use in people 18 through 64 years of age who are at increased risk of exposure to the H5N 1 influenza virus subtype contained in the vaccine.
- This vaccine is derived from the A/Vietnam/1203/2004 influenza virus.
- It is administered as a two-dose regimen. One 90 microgram dose is given intramuscularly, in the upper arm, and a second 90 microgram dose is given in the same manner, 28 days later.
H5N1 Avian influenza has not become an epidemic till now. What is the most important reason for this?
| A | Seen only in wild birds and not in domestic poultry | |
| B | It has avian influenza genes | |
| C |
Human to human transmission is rare |
|
| D |
It causes serious illness leading to death of the patient |
Ans. c. Human to human transmission is rare
H5N1 Avian influenza has not become an epidemic till now. Human to human transmission is rare; this is the most important reason.
Fortunately, the transmission of the current H5N1 virus is inefficient (Human to human transmission is rare). Most patients with H5N1 infection present with pneumonia. However, if antigenic recombination occurs between H5N1 influenza and a strain of influenza, which is highly infectious for humans, sustained human-to-human transmission could give rise to a pandemic, similar to the Spanish pandemic of 1918. This concern has spurred efforts to develop a vaccine.’
