Research progress on the mechanism of transmission,pathopoiesis,treatment and prevention of avian influenza virus(H5N1) / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

The outbreak of high-pathogenicity avian influenza viruses causing severe illness and death has severely disrupted poultry production and trade and posed a significant threat to public health.In recent thirty years,the virus has been endemic in Southeast Asia,China,Europe and Africa.Although the virus shows little ability of transmission between humans,a process of genetic reassortment could occur in a human co-infected with avian influenza A virus and a human strain of influenza A virus.So H5N1 represents a potential source of the next pandemic influenza.Direct avian-human H5N1 virus transmission is the predominant means of human infection,through direct contact with infected birds and virus-contaminated fomites or with fertilizer containing poultry feces.After several rounds of infection the viruses acquire the mutations required for crossing species barrier and infect a range of mammalian species including humans.Currently,vaccination is still the key strategy to prevent severe illness and death from pandemic influenza.Antiviral drugs such as NA inhibitors play an important role in antiviral treatment.The features of avian influenza virus and its mechanism of transmission in animals and humans are herewith reviewed,and the pathopoiesis of the virus,the current status of vaccine development and antiviral treatment are also discussed.