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Avian influenza

Q：Which virus can cause highly pathogenic avian influenza?
A：Avian influenza A virus strains are further classified as low pathogenic (LPAI) or highly pathogenic (HPAI) on the basis of specific molecular genetic and pathogenesis criteria that require specific testing. Most avian influenza A viruses are LPAI viruses that are usually associated with mild disease in poultry. In contrast, HPAI viruses can cause severe illness and high mortality in poultry. LPAI viruses have the potential to evolve into HPAI viruses and this has been documented in some poultry outbreaks. Avian influenza A viruses of the subtypes H5 and H7, including H5N1, H7N7, and H7N3 viruses, have been associated with HPAI. However, not all H5 and H7 subtypes are highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses.
Q：Do migratory birds transmit avian influenza virus?
A：In 2005, H5N1 avian influenza virus was first discovered to be transmitted among birds across widely separated localities. Scientists are becoming more convinced that some migratory birds spread the virus to domesticated fowls found along their migratory path. As soon as the role of migratory birds in the transmission of virus had been confirmed, it certainly changed the long established relationship between the H5N1 virus and the wild birds as its natural hosts.
Towards the end of April 2005, more than 6,000 migratory birds in Qinghai lake nature reserve in central China died after being infected with the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus. This is considered an unusual case because prior to the incident, wild birds rarely died due to highly pathogenic avian influenza virus. Several scientific researches on avian influenza virus noted that countries recently hit by the bird flu epidemic are located along the pathway of migratory birds, and the virus samples screened from those regions are exactly similar to the virus that killed thousands of migratory birds in Qinghai lake. In addition, viruses from Turkey’s first two human cases, which were fatal, were also virtually identical to viruses from Qinghai Lake.
Q：What are the implications of avian influenza to human health?
A：There are two main risks for human health caused by avian influenza. They are 1) the risk of direct infection when the virus passes from the infected bird to humans, sometimes resulting in severe disease; and 2) the risk that the virus – if given enough opportunities – will change into a form that is highly infectious for humans and spreads easily from person to person.
Q： Whom can I contact if I see signs of bird flu?
A：You may contact the Council of Agriculture (COA), Executive Yuan, on a toll-free hotline: 0800-761-590.
Q：Where can I get additional information regarding bird flu?
A：

For more information, visit the websites of the Council of Agriculture (http://eng.coa.gov.tw/).

最後更新日期 2012/11/6