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Influenza A virus subtype H5N1
hideInfluenza A virus subtype H5N1, also known as "bird flu," A(H5N1) or simply H5N1, is a subtype of the Influenza A virus which can cause illness in humans and many other animal species. A bird-adapted strain of H5N1, called HPAI A(H5N1) for "highly pathogenic avian influenza virus of type A of subtype H5N1", is the causative agent of H5N1 flu, commonly known as "avian influenza" or "bird flu". It is enzootic in many bird populations, especially in Southeast Asia. One strain of HPAI A(H5N1) is spreading globally after first appearing in Asia. It is epizootic (an epidemic in nonhumans) and panzootic (affecting animals of many species, especially over a wide area), killing tens of millions of birds and spurring the culling of hundreds of millions of others to stem its spread. Most references to "bird flu" and H5N1 in the popular media refer to this strain.
According to the FAO Avian Influenza Disease Emergency Situation Update, H5N1 pathogenicity is continuing to gradually rise in endemic areas but the avian influenza disease situation in farmed birds is being held in check by vaccination. Eleven outbreaks of H5N1 were reported worldwide in June 2008 in five countries (China, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan and Vietnam) compared to 65 outbreaks in June 2006 and 55 in June 2007. The "global HPAI situation can be said to have improved markedly in the first half of 2008 [but] cases of HPAI are still underestimated and underreported in many countries because of limitations in country disease surveillance systems".
For more information about Influenza A virus subtype H5N1, read the full article at
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News tagged with bird flu
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Biology /
Jul 15, 2008 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists and researchers have taken a big step closer to a cure for the most common strain of avian influenza, or "bird flu," the potential pandemic that has claimed more than 200 lives ...
Gene Hijacked By HIV Ancestor Suggests New Way to Block Viral Reproduction
Dec 07, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- An ancestor of the AIDS virus hijacked an entire gene, perhaps from some prehistoric cat it had infected, a gene that makes it much better able to infect humans, according to a study published ...
Human vaccine against bird flu a reality with new discovery
Mar 02, 2009 |
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A vaccine to protect humans from a bird flu pandemic is within reach after a new discovery by researchers at the University of Melbourne, Australia.
Health authorities rush to tackle killer flu in US, Mexico
Apr 24, 2009 |
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World health authorities on Friday rushed to tackle flu outbreaks in the United States and Mexico that have killed at least 60 people and have pandemic potential.
A New Way of Treating the Flu
Medicine & Health / Medications
Jun 13, 2009 |
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What happens if the next big influenza mutation proves resistant to the available anti-viral drugs? This question is presenting itself right now to scientists and health officials this week at the World Health ...
A New Way of Treating the Flu
Jul 06, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- What happens if the next big influenza mutation proves resistant to the available anti-viral drugs? This question was presenting itself to scientists and health officials recently at the World ...
New research helps explain why bird flu has not caused a pandemic
Nov 19, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Bird flu viruses would have to make at least two simultaneous genetic mutations before they could be transmitted readily from human to human, according to research published today in PLoS ON ...
Humans are responsible for swine flu
May 01, 2009 |
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Swine flu. Bird flu. Mad cow disease. SARS. These diseases have all spread from animals to humans in one form or another. But animals aren't to blame for outbreaks of animal-borne diseases -- humans are.
Swine flu could become pandemic, health officials say
Apr 26, 2009 |
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A growing number of swine flu cases in Mexico and the U.S. has international health officials concerned that the aggressive virus could infect people worldwide.
HIV's ancestors 'plagued first mammals'
Other Sciences / Archaeology & Fossils
Sep 18, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- The retroviruses which gave rise to HIV have been battling it out with mammal immune systems since mammals first evolved around 100 million years ago - about 85 million years earlier than ...
Dressed to Kill: From Virus to Vaccine
Biology /
Dec 10, 2008 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- In a pioneering effort, researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the University of Queensland in Australia have successfully demonstrated that they can count, ...
Scientist warns over pandemic flu vaccine 6-month time lag
Apr 27, 2009 |
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New research published today (Monday April 27) from the University of Leicester and University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust warns of a six-month time lag before effective vaccines can be manufactured in the event of a ...
WHO: nearly 5,000 swine flu deaths worldwide
Oct 23, 2009 |
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(AP) -- Nearly 5,000 people have reportedly died from swine flu since it emerged this year and developed into a global epidemic, the World Health Organization said Friday.
Asia on alert after flu threat spreads
Apr 26, 2009 |
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Asian health officials went on alert Sunday as a flu strain that has killed dozens of people in Mexico appeared to have spread to New Zealand, underscoring warnings of a potential pandemic.
Scramble to stop swine flu spread among travelers
Apr 27, 2009 |
2.8 / 5 (4) |
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(AP) -- Three more New Zealanders recently returned from Mexico are suspected of having swine flu and Spain announced the first confirmed case of the deadly virus in Europe on Monday, as countries rushed ...
