H5N1- Avian
Influenza
D.A. Richman
Justin Pavlic
Samantha McCormick
Emily Piotrowski

What is Avian Influenza?
• Also called “Bird Flu”
• It’s a viral disease of wild and domestic birds.
• It can cause illness in poultry and humans.

Who/what can be infected?
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Humans
Poultry
Pigs
Cats
Horses
Dogs
Household pets

Etiological Agent
• Type A Influenza Virus, also known as H5N1

Major Characteristics
• Composed of a protein capsid and covered in an envelope
• Two types of projectiles: hemagglutinin (the H in H5N1) and neuraminidase (the N in H5N1)
• Respiratory virus

Virulence Factors
• Each projectile or spike allows attachment or detachment to human cells

Transmission
• Humans can be infected with the avian influenza virus by either direct contact or very close contact with sick poultry • The WHO mentions a potential possibility of person to person contact there is very little evidence to prove the theory. Major Signs and Symptoms
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Cough
Influenza-like illness
Dyspnea (difficulty breathing)
Fever
Rales, rhonchi (Crackles or snoring-like sound in the lungs)
Wheeze
Decreased breath sounds
Tachypnea (rapid breathing)

If left untreated…..
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Primary influenza pneumonia
Respiratory failure
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Multiorgan failure
Death
Sepsis
Encephalitis
Community-acquired pneumonia
Hospital-acquired pneumonia

Prevention
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Minimizing contact with infected animals
H5N1 poultry immunization
Cooking poultry and poultry products thoroughly
Proper hand hygiene when dealing when dealing with any of the above agents
• Annual seasonal influenza vaccine

References
The Writing Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) Consultation on Human Influenza A/H5. (New
England Journal of Medicine, 2005, 353:1374-1385.)
Probable Person-to-Person Transmission of Avian Influenza A (H5N1)
Kumnuan Ungchusak, M.D., M.P.H., Prasert Auewarakul, M.D., Scott F. Dowell, M.D., M.P.H., Rungrueng
Kitphati, M.D., Wattana Auwanit, Ph.D., Pilaipan Puthavathana, Ph.D., Mongkol Uiprasertkul, M.D., Kobporn
Boonnak, M.Sc., Chakrarat Pittayawonganon, M.D., Nancy J. Cox, Ph.D., Sherif R. Zaki, M.D., Ph.D., Pranee
Thawatsupha, M.S., Malinee Chittaganpitch, B.Sc., Rotjana Khontong, M.D., James M. Simmerman, R.N., M.S., and Supamit Chunsutthiwat, M.D., M.P.H.
N Engl J Med 2005; 352:333-340January 27, 2005DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa044021
James Herbert Spencer. (2013) The