Influenza Viruses - the Basics
It is a combination of several characteristics of
avian flu (Type A, deadly to animals and humans,
and the potential for antigenic shift) that causes
the concern and potential for a pandemic. Should
the H5N1 virus coinfect a suitable animal or
human host already infected with another existing
Type A virus that is highly contagious to humans,
genes from both viruses could reassort their
hemagglutinin and neuraminidase proteins
generating a novel virus.
A combination of characteristics of the novel
virus, including its pathogenic nature, the lack of
antibodies in humans (since it will be new virus),
and its ability to spread from human to human
makes up the ingredients for a global pandemic. If
it is easily transmitted through the air or by mutual
contact between infected and uninfected
individuals, it then has the potential to become the
cause of the pandemic that health experts fear. A
new highly pathogenic and contagious virus will
exact a deadly toll when it evolves and begins to
spread.
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It is a combination of several characteristics of
avian flu (Type A, deadly to animals and humans,
and the potential for antigenic shift) that causes
the concern and potential for a pandemic. Should
the H5N1 virus coinfect a suitable animal or
human host already infected with another existing
Type A virus that is highly contagious to humans,
genes from both viruses could reassort their
hemagglutinin and neuraminidase proteins
generating a novel virus.
A combination of characteristics of the novel
virus, including its pathogenic nature, the lack of
antibodies in humans (since it will be new virus),
and its ability to spread from human to human
makes up the ingredients for a global pandemic. If
it is easily transmitted through the air or by mutual
contact between infected and uninfected
individuals, it then has the potential to become the
cause of the pandemic that health experts fear. A
new highly pathogenic and contagious virus will
exact a deadly toll when it evolves and begins to
spread.
Close window and return to last page
