The highly pathogenic Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 virus is an emerging avian influenza virus that has been causing global concern as a potential pandemic threat. It is often referred to simply as "bird flu" or "avian influenza" even though it is only one subtype of avian influenza causing virus.
In 1918 the “Spanish Flu” pandemic swept the world, stemming from the H1N1 influenza A virus, and killed between 50 million to 100 million people during the 18 months of the pandemic. In 1957, the "Asian Flu" outbreak claimed more than 100,000 lives. To blame was the H2N2 influenza virus. In 1968, the H3N2 virus was responsible for the loss up to 750,000 lives in the "Hong Kong Flu" pandemic.
1997: In Hong Kong, avian influenza A (H5N1) infected both chickens and humans. This was the first time an avian influenza virus had ever been found to transmit directly from birds to humans. During this outbreak, 18 people were hospitalized and 6 of them died. In 1998, H5N1 is found in two more people in Hong Kong. One eventually dies.
In 2003, 83 people are infected with the H7N7 strain, with one fatality. In 2004, the H5N1 and H7N3 strains infected dozens of people in Vietnam and Thailand--and two in Canada. Many of these people died.
In 2005, strains have been found to infect people in Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Thailand. Around 60 people have died, and strains are being detected in animals now for the first time in such places as Romania, Greece, Turkey, Russia, England In 2006, increased numbers of Antiviral Medication, stockpiling of medications and many tests around the world on wild animals and birds.
Bird Flu H5N1
