Influenza A virus
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Influenza A virus, or IAV is a pathogen with strains that cause seasonal flu in humans; it can also infect birds and some mammals.<ref name="WHO-Seasonal-2024" /> Strains of IAV circulate constantly in bats, pigs, horses, and dogs, while other mammals may be infected occasionally.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="CDC-Subtypes">Template:Cite web</ref> It has also been the cause of a number of pandemics, most notably the Spanish Flu pandemic from 1918–1920.<ref name="Knobler-2005" />
Subtypes of IAV are defined by the combination of the molecules on the surface of the virus which provoke an immune response; for example, "H1N1" denotes a subtype that has a type-1 hemagglutinin (H) protein and a type-1 neuraminidase (N) protein.<ref name="CDC-2024">Template:Cite web</ref> Variations within subtypes affect how easily the virus spreads, the severity of illness, and its ability to infect different hosts.<ref name="CDC-2023">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The virus changes through mutation and genetic reassortment, allowing it to evade immunity and sometimes jump between species.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Eisfeld2">Template:Cite journal</ref>
Symptoms of human seasonal flu usually include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches and, in severe cases, breathing problems and pneumonia that may be fatal.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="WHO-Seasonal-2024" /> Humans can rarely become infected with strains of avian or swine influenza, usually as a result of close contact with infected animals; symptoms range from mild to severe including death.<ref name="GOV.UK-2021">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="ECDC-Swine-2017">Template:Cite web</ref> Bird-adapted strains of the virus can be asymptomatic in some aquatic birds but lethal if they spread to other species, such as chickens.<ref name="joseph">Template:Cite journal</ref>
IAV disease in poultry can be prevented by vaccination; however, biosecurity control measures such as quarantine, segregation, and good hygiene are preferred.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In humans, seasonal influenza can be prevented by vaccination, or treated in its early stages with antiviral medicines.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) monitors the spread of influenza worldwide and informs development of both seasonal and pandemic vaccines.<ref name="Fange">Template:Cite book</ref> Several millions of specimens are tested by the GISRS network annually through a network of laboratories in 127 countries. As well as human viruses, GISRS monitors avian, swine, and other influenza viruses which could potentially infect humans. IAV vaccines need to be reformulated regularly in order to keep up with changes in the virus.<ref name=":B03">Template:Cite web</ref>
Virology
Taxonomy
Influenza A virus, or IAV (scientific name Alphainfluenzavirus influenzae),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is the only species of the genus Alphainfluenzavirus of the virus family Orthomyxoviridae.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Classification
There are two methods of classification, one based on the antigenic surface proteins,<ref name="pmid5309456">Template:Cite journal</ref> and the other based on its behavior, mainly the host animal.<ref name=":0" />
Subtypes
There are two antigenic proteins on the surface of the viral envelope, hemagglutinin and neuraminidase.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Based on their serotype, there are 18 known types of hemagglutinin and 11 types of neuraminidase.<ref name="Influenza Subtypes">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="New Influenza Subtypes">Template:Cite journal</ref> Subtypes of IAV are classified by their combination of H and N proteins. For example, "H5N1" designates an influenza A subtype that has a type-5 hemagglutinin (H) protein and a type-1 neuraminidase (N) protein.<ref name="Influenza Subtypes" />
By definition, the subtyping scheme only takes into account the two outer proteins, not the additional eight or more proteins which are coded by the genome.<ref name="Eisfeld">Template:Cite journal</ref> Almost all possible combinations of H (1 through 16) and N (1 through 11) have been isolated from wild birds.<ref name="FluGlobal-Avian">Template:Cite web</ref> H17 and H18 have only been discovered in bats.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Further variation exists within viral subtypes which may lead to significant differences in behavior.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Influenza virus nomenclature
Due to the high variability of the virus, subtyping is not sufficient to uniquely identify a strain of influenza A virus. To unambiguously describe a specific isolate of virus, researchers use the Influenza virus nomenclature,<ref name=":0">Template:Cite journal</ref> which describes, among other things, the subtype, year, and place of collection. Some examples include:<ref name="PAHO">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Template:Tt.<ref name=PAHO/>
- The starting Template:Tt indicates that the virus is an influenza A virus.
- Template:Tt indicates the place of collection. Template:Tt is a laboratory sequence number. Template:Tt (or just Template:Tt) indicates that the sample was collected in 2021. No species is mentioned so by default, the sample was collected from a human.
- Template:Tt indicates the subtype of the virus.
- Template:Tt.<ref name=PAHO/>
- This example shows an additional field before the place: Template:Tt. It indicates that the sample was collected from a pig.
- Template:Tt.<ref name=PAHO/>
- This example carries an unusual designation in the last part: instead of a usual Template:Tt, it uses Template:Tt. This was in order to distinguish the Pandemic H1N1/09 virus lineage from older H1N1 viruses.<ref name=PAHO/>
Structure and genetics
Structure
The influenza A virus has a negative-sense, single-stranded, segmented RNA genome, enclosed in a lipid envelope. The virus particle (also called the "virion") is 80–120 nanometers in diameter, such that the smallest virions adopt an elliptical shape; larger virions have a filamentous shape.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Core – The central core of the virion contains the viral RNA genome, which is made of eight separate segments.<ref name="Bouvier, N.M 2008">Template:Cite journal</ref> The nucleoprotein (NP) coats the viral RNA to form a ribonucleoprotein that assumes a helical (spiral) configuration. Three large proteins (PB1, PB2, and PA), which are responsible for RNA transcription and replication, are bound to each segment of viral RNP.<ref name="Bouvier, N.M 2008" /><ref name="Shaffer-2018">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="WHO-Virology">Template:Cite web</ref>
Capsid – The matrix protein M1 forms a layer between the nucleoprotein and the envelope, called the capsid.<ref name="Bouvier, N.M 2008" /><ref name="Shaffer-2018" /><ref name="WHO-Virology" />
Envelope – The viral envelope consists of a lipid bilayer derived from the host cell. Two viral proteins; hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA), are inserted into the envelope and are exposed as spikes on the surface of the virion. Both proteins are antigenic; a host's immune system can react to them and produce antibodies in response. The M2 protein forms an ion channel in the envelope and is responsible for uncoating the virion once it has bound to a host cell.<ref name="Bouvier, N.M 2008" /><ref name="Shaffer-2018" /><ref name="WHO-Virology" />
Genome
The table below presents a concise summary of the influenza genome and the principal functions of the proteins which are encoded. Segments are conventionally numbered from 1 to 8 in descending order of length.<ref name="krammer">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Jakob et al">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Dou et al">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Rashid et al">Template:Cite journal</ref>
| RNA segment | Length | Protein | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1- PB2 | 2341 | PB2 (Polymerase Basic 2) | A component of the viral RNA polymerase.
PB2 also inhibits JAK1/STAT signaling to inhibit host innate immune response |
| 2- PB1 | 2341 | PB1 (Polymerase Basic 1) | A component of the viral RNA polymerase.
It also degrades the host cell's mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein |
| PB1-F2 (Polymerase Basic 1-Frame 2) | An accessory protein of most IAVs. Not needed for virus replication and growth, it interferes with the host immune response. | ||
| 3- PA | 2233 | PA (Polymerase Acid) | A component of the viral RNA polymerase |
| PA-X | Arises from a ribosomal frameshift in the PA segment. Inhibits innate host immune responses, such as cytokine and interferon production. | ||
| 4- HA | 1775 | HA (Hemagglutinin) | Part of the viral envelope, a protein that binds the virion to host cells, enabling the virus's RNA genetic material to invade it |
| 5- NP | 1565 | NP (Nucleoprotein) | The nucleoprotein associates with the viral RNA to form a ribonucleoprotein (RNP).
At the early stage of infection, the RNP binds to the host cell's importin-α which transports it into the host cell nucleus, where the viral RNA is transcribed and replicated. At a later stage of infection, newly manufactured viral RNA segments assemble with the NP protein and polymerase (PB1, PB2 and PA) to form the core of a progeny virion |
| 6- NA | 1409 | NA (Neuraminidase) | Part of the viral envelope. NA enables the newly assembled virions to escape the host cell and go on to propagate the infection.
NA also facilitates the movement of infective virus particles through mucus, enabling them to reach host epithelial cells. |
| 7- M | 1027 | M1 (Matrix Protein 1) | Forms the capsid, which coats the viral nucleoproteins and supports the structure of the viral envelope.
M1 also assists with the function of the NEP protein. |
| M2 (Matrix Protein 2) | Forms a proton channel in the viral envelope, which is activated once a virion has bound to a host cell. This uncoats the virus, exposing its infective contents to the cytoplasm of the host cell | ||
| 8- NS | 890 | NS1 (non-structural protein 1) | Counteracts the host's natural immune response and inhibits interferon production. |
| NEP (Nuclear Export Protein, formerly NS2 non-structural protein 2) | Cooperates with the M1 protein to mediate the export of viral RNA copies from nucleus into cytoplasm in the late stage of viral replication |
Three viral proteins - PB1, PB2, and PA – associate to form the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) which functions to transcribe and replicate the viral RNA.
Viral messenger RNA transcription – The RdRp complex transcribes viral mRNAs by using a mechanism called cap-snatching. It consists in the hijacking and cleavage of host capped pre-mRNAs. Host cell mRNA is cleaved near the cap to yield a primer for the transcription of positive-sense viral mRNA using the negative-sense viral RNA as a template.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The host cell then transports the viral mRNA into the cytoplasm where ribosomes manufacture the viral proteins.<ref name="krammer" /><ref name="Jakob et al" /><ref name="Dou et al" /><ref name="Rashid et al" />
Replication of the viral RNA – The replication of the influenza virus, unlike most other RNA viruses,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> takes place in the nucleus and involves two steps. The RdRp first of all transcribes the negative-sense viral genome into a positive-sense complimentary RNA (cRNA), then the cRNAs are used as templates to transcribe new negative-sense vRNA copies. These are exported from the nucleus and assemble near the cell membrane to form the core of new virions.<ref name="krammer" /><ref name="Jakob et al" /><ref name="Dou et al" /><ref name="Rashid et al" />
Epidemiology
Evolution and history
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Template:Also The predominant natural reservoir of influenza viruses is thought to be wild waterfowl.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The subtypes of influenza A virus are estimated to have diverged 2,000 years ago. Influenza viruses A and B are estimated to have diverged from a single ancestor around 4,000 years ago, while the ancestor of influenza viruses A and B and the ancestor of influenza virus C are estimated to have diverged from a common ancestor around 8,000 years ago.<ref name="origin">Template:Cite journal</ref>
Outbreaks of influenza-like disease can be found throughout recorded history. The first probable record is by Hippocrates in 412 BCE.<ref name="Flu-History">Template:Cite web</ref> The historian Fujikawa listed 46 epidemics of flu-like illness in Japan between 862 and 1868.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> In Europe and the Americas, a number of epidemics were recorded through the Middle Ages and up to the end of the 19th century.<ref name="Flu-History" />
In 1918-1919 came the first flu pandemic of the 20th century, known generally as the "Spanish flu", which caused an estimated 20 to 50 million deaths worldwide. It is now known that this was caused by an immunologically novel H1N1 subtype of influenza A.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The next pandemic took place in 1957, the "Asian flu", which was caused by a H2N2 subtype of the virus in which the genome segments coding for HA and NA appeared to have derived from avian influenza strains by reassortment, while the remainder of the genome was descended from the 1918 virus.<ref name="Knobler-2005">Template:Cite book</ref> The 1968 pandemic ("Hong Kong flu") was caused by a H3N2 subtype in which the NA segment was derived from the 1957 virus, while the HA segment had been reassorted from an avian strain of influenza.<ref name="Knobler-2005" />
In the 21st century, a strain of H1N1 flu (since titled "H1N1pdm09") was antigenically very different from previous H1N1 strains, leading to a pandemic in 2009. Because of its close resemblance to some strains circulating in pigs, this became known as "swine flu".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Influenza A virus continues to circulate and evolve in birds and pigs. Almost all possible combinations of H (1 through 16) and N (1 through 11) have been isolated from wild birds.<ref name="FluGlobal-Avian" /> As of June 2024, two particularly virulent IAV strains - H5N1 and H7N9 – are predominant in wild bird populations. These frequently cause outbreaks in domestic poultry, with occasional spillover infections in humans who are in close contact with poultry.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Pandemic potential
Influenza viruses have a relatively high mutation rate that is characteristic of RNA viruses.<ref name="SanjuanNebot20102">Template:Cite journal</ref> The segmentation of the influenza A virus genome facilitates genetic recombination by segment reassortment in hosts who become infected with two different strains of influenza viruses at the same time.<ref name="Kou22">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="WHOinfluenza22">Template:Cite journal Figure 1 shows a diagramatic representation of the genetic relatedness of Asian H5N1 hemagglutinin genes from various isolates of the virus</ref> With reassortment between strains, an avian strain which does not affect humans may acquire characteristics from a different strain which enable it to infect and pass between humans – a zoonotic event.<ref name=":B42">Template:Cite web</ref> It is thought that all influenza A viruses causing outbreaks or pandemics among humans since the 1900s originated from strains circulating in wild aquatic birds through reassortment with other influenza strains.<ref name=":B02">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name=":B32">Template:Cite journal</ref> It is possible (though not certain) that pigs may act as an intermediate host for reassortment.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Surveillance
The Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) is a global network of laboratories that monitor the spread of influenza with the aim to provide the World Health Organization with influenza control information and to inform vaccine development.<ref name="Fange" /> Several millions of specimens are tested by the GISRS network annually through a network of laboratories in 127 countries.<ref name=":B03"/> As well as human viruses, GISRS also monitors avian, swine, and other potentially zoonotic influenza viruses.
Seasonal flu
Flu season is an annually recurring time period characterized by the prevalence of an outbreak of influenza, caused either by Influenza A or by Influenza B. The season occurs during the cold half of the year in temperate regions; November through February in the northern hemisphere and May to October in the southern hemisphere. Flu seasons also exist in the tropics and subtropics, with variability from region to region.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Annually, about 3 to 5 million cases of severe illness and 290,000 to 650,000 deaths from seasonal flu occur worldwide.<ref name="WHO-Seasonal-2024" />
There are several possible reasons for the winter peak in temperate regions:
- During the winter, people spend more time indoors with the windows sealed, so they are more likely to breathe the same air as someone who has the flu and thus contract the virus.<ref name="Harvard-2014">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Days are shorter during the winter, and lack of sunlight leads to low levels of vitamin D and melatonin, both of which require sunlight for their generation. This compromises our immune systems, which in turn decreases ability to fight the virus.<ref name="Harvard-2014" />
- The influenza virus may survive better in colder, drier climates, and therefore be able to infect more people.<ref name="Harvard-2014" />
- Cold air reduces the ability of the nasal membranes to resist infection.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Zoonotic infections
A zoonosis is a disease in a human caused by a pathogen (such as a bacterium, or virus) that has jumped from a non-human to a human.<ref name="mw">Template:Cite Merriam-Webster</ref><ref name="WHO-Zoonoses-2020">Template:Cite web</ref> Avian and pig influenza viruses can, on rare occasions, transmit to humans and cause zoonotic influenza virus infections; these infections are usually confined to people who have been in close contact with infected animals or material such as infected feces and meat, they do not spread to other humans. Symptoms of these infections in humans vary greatly; some are in asymptomatic or mild while others can cause severe disease, leading to severe pneumonia and death.<ref name="ecdc-annual-2022">Template:Cite web</ref> A wide range of Influenza A virus subtypes have been found to cause zoonotic disease.<ref name="ecdc-annual-2022" /><ref name="FAO-2020">Template:Cite web</ref>
Zoonotic infections can be prevented by good hygiene, by preventing farmed animals from coming into contact with wild animals, and by using appropriate personal protective equipment.<ref name="WHO-Zoonoses-2020" />
As of June 2024, there is concern about two subtypes of avian influenza which are circulating in wild bird populations worldwide, H5N1 and H7N9. Both of these have potential to devastate poultry stocks, and both have jumped to humans with relatively high case fatality rates.<ref name="FAO-2020" /> H5N1 in particular has infected a wide range of mammals and may be adapting to mammalian hosts.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Prevention and treatment
Vaccine
Template:Main As of June 2024, the influenza viruses which circulate widely in humans are IAV subtypes H1N1 and H3N2, together with Influenza B.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Annual vaccination is the primary and most effective way to prevent influenza and influenza-associated complications, especially for high-risk groups.<ref name="chow">Template:Cite journal</ref> Vaccines against the flu are trivalent or quadrivalent, providing protection against the dominant strains of IAV(H1N1) and IAV(H3N2), and one or two influenza B virus strains; the formulation is continually reviewed in order to match the predominant strains in circulation.<ref name="dharmapalan">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="sautto">Template:Cite journal</ref>
It is possible to vaccinate poultry and pigs against specific strains of influenza. Vaccination should be combined with other control measures such as infection monitoring, early detection and biosecurity.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Treatment
Template:Main The main treatment for mild influenza is supportive; rest, fluids, and over-the-counter medicines to alleviate symptoms while the body's own immune system works to recover from infection. Antiviral drugs are recommended for those with severe symptoms, or for those who are at risk of developing complications such as pneumonia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="WHO-Seasonal-2024">Template:Cite web</ref>
Signs and symptoms
Humans
The symptoms of seasonal flu are similar to those of a cold, although usually more severe and less likely to include a runny nose.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The onset of symptoms is sudden, and initial symptoms are predominately non-specific: a sudden fever; muscle aches; cough; fatigue; sore throat; headache; difficulty sleeping; loss of appetite; diarrhoea or abdominal pain; nausea and vomiting.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Humans can rarely become infected with strains of avian or swine influenza, usually as a result of close contact with infected animals or contaminated material; symptoms generally resemble seasonal flu but occasionally can be severe, including death.<ref name="GOV.UK-2021" /><ref name="ECDC-Swine-2017" />
Other animals
Birds
Some species of wild aquatic birds act as natural asymptomatic carriers of a large variety of influenza A viruses, which they can spread over large distances in their annual migration.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Symptoms of avian influenza vary according to both the strain of virus underlying the infection, and on the species of bird affected. Symptoms of influenza in birds may include swollen head, watery eyes, unresponsiveness, lack of coordination, respiratory distress such as sneezing or gurgling.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Highly pathogenic avian influenza
Because of the impact of avian influenza on economically important chicken farms, avian virus strains are classified as either highly pathogenic (and therefore potentially requiring vigorous control measures) or low pathogenic. The test for this is based solely on the effect on chickens - a virus strain is highly pathogenic avian influenza if 75% or more of chickens die after being deliberately infected with it, or if it is genetically similar to such a strain. The alternative classification is low pathogenic avian influenza.<ref name=":AA6">Template:Cite journal</ref> Classification of a virus strain as either a low or high pathogenic strain is based on the severity of symptoms in domestic chickens and does not predict severity of symptoms in other species. Chickens infected with low pathogenic avian influenza display mild symptoms or are asymptomatic, whereas highly pathogenic avian influenza causes serious breathing difficulties, significant drop in egg production, and sudden death.<ref name="CDC-2022">Template:Cite web</ref>
Since 2006, the World Organization for Animal Health requires all detections of low pathogenic avian influenza H5 and H7 subtypes to be reported because of their potential to mutate into highly pathogenic strains.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Pigs
Template:Main Signs of swine flu in pigs can include fever, depression, coughing (barking), discharge from the nose or eyes, sneezing, breathing difficulties, eye redness or inflammation, and going off feed. Some pigs infected with influenza, however, may show no signs of illness at all. Swine flu subtypes are principally H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> it is spread either through close contact between animals or by the movement of contaminated equipment between farms.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Humans who are in close contact with pigs can sometimes become infected.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Horses
Template:Main Equine influenza can affect horses, donkeys, and mules;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> it has a very high rate of transmission among horses, and a relatively short incubation time of one to three days.<ref name="Merck-Vet">Template:Cite web</ref> Clinical signs of equine influenza include fever, nasal discharge, have a dry, hacking cough, depression, loss of appetite and weakness.<ref name="Merck-Vet" /> EI is caused by two subtypes of influenza A viruses: H7N7 and H3N8, which have evolved from avian influenza A viruses.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Dogs
Template:Main Most animals infected with canine influenza A will show symptoms such as coughing, runny nose, fever, lethargy, eye discharge, and a reduced appetite lasting anywhere from 2–3 weeks.<ref name="CDC-Canine-2023" /> There are two different influenza A dog flu viruses: one is an H3N8 virus and the other is an H3N2 virus.<ref name="CDC-Canine-2023">Template:Cite web</ref> The H3N8 strain has evolved from an equine influenza avian virus which has adapted to sustained transmission among dogs. The H3N2 strain is derived from an avian influenza which jumped to dogs in 2004 in either Korea or China.<ref name="CDC-Canine-2023" /> It is likely that the virus persists in both animal shelters and kennels, as well as in farms where dogs are raised for meat production.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Bats
Template:Main The first bat flu virus, IAV(H17N10), was first discovered in 2009 in little yellow-shouldered bats (Sturnira lilium) in Guatemala.<ref name="swwa">Template:Cite web</ref> In 2012 a second bat influenza A virus IAV(H18N11) was discovered in flat-faced fruit-eating bats (Artibeus planirostris) from Peru.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Schwemmle">Template:Cite journal</ref> Bat influenza viruses have been found to be poorly adapted to non-bat species.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Research
Influenza research includes efforts to understand how influenza viruses enter hosts, the relationship between influenza viruses and bacteria, how influenza symptoms progress, and why some influenza viruses are deadlier than others.<ref name="niaid">Template:Cite web</ref> Past pandemics, and especially the 1918 pandemic, are the subject of much research to understand and prevent flu pandemics.<ref name="potter">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
The World Health Organization has published a Research Agenda with five streams:<ref name="WHO-Agenda-2017">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Stream 1. Reducing the risk of emergence of pandemic influenza. This stream is entirely focused on preventing and limiting pandemic influenza; this includes research into what characteristics make a strain either mild or deadly, worldwide surveillance of influenza A viruses with pandemic potential, and the prevention and management of potentially zoonotic influenza in domestic and farmed animals.<ref name="WHO-Agenda-2017" />
- Stream 2. Limiting the spread of pandemic, zoonotic and seasonal epidemic influenza. This is more broadly targeted at both pandemic and seasonal influenza, looking at the transmission of the virus between people and the ways in which it can spread globally, as well as the environmental and social factors which affect transmission.<ref name="WHO-Agenda-2017" />
- Stream 3. Minimizing the impact of pandemic, zoonotic, and seasonal epidemic influenza. This is principally concerned with vaccination – improving the effectiveness of vaccines, vaccine technology, as well as the speed with which an effective vaccine can be developed and ways in which vaccines can be manufactured and delivered worldwide.<ref name="WHO-Agenda-2017" />
- Stream 4. Optimizing the treatment of patients. This stream aims to reduce the impact of influenza by looking at methods of treatment, vulnerable groups, genetic predispositions, the interaction of influenza infection with other diseases, and influenza sequelae.<ref name="WHO-Agenda-2017" />
- Stream 5. Promoting the development and application of modern public health tools.<ref name="WHO-Agenda-2017" /> Aiming to improve the ways in which public policy can combat influenza; this includes the introduction of new technologies, epidemic and pandemic modelling, and the communication of accurate and trustworthy information to the public.<ref name="WHO-Agenda-2017" />
See also
References
Further reading
- Official sources
- Pandemic Influenza US CDC
- General information
- Web focus: Warnings of a Flu Pandemic Nature
- Nature Reports: Homepage: Avian Flu
- Template:Cite journal
- Pandemic Influenza: Domestic Preparedness Efforts Congressional Research Service Report on Pandemic Preparedness.
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- Links to Bird Flu pictures (Hardin MD/Univ of Iowa) Template:Webarchive
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Template:Influenza Template:Common cold Template:Viral diseases Template:Taxonbar Template:Authority control