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We need to be ready for flu pandemic

A KAzad
WHO (World Health Organisation) has cautioned the world community against an imminent flu pandemic. Few infectious diseases cause such huge toll of morbidity, mortality and economic loss as influenza. In addition, influenza can emerge as pandemic that may not be predicted well ahead. In 1918, Spanish flu caused about 40 million death and the diseases spread throughout the globe within 90 days. The ability of the virus to hop from bird to human has caused death of at least 32 people around the South East Asian Region last year. These deaths aroused great concern among scientists and public health officials particularly for the possibility of emergence of an influenza pandemic. The recent briefing of WHO official regarding pandemics has heightened the concern.
As highlighted by the recent Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), international air travel increases global vulnerability to infectious agents particularly those transmit through inhalation. Our ability to combat influenza and its complications depends primarily on vaccination. Annual influenza vaccine production is a well-planned process that takes up to 6 months. Current facilities across the world are not suitable for rapid bulk manufacture of avian influenza virus vaccines in response to a world threat. The'situation is particularly wotst in the developing and least deVfeU oped countries like ours.
Influenza, commonly called "flu" is one of the oldest and most common diseases known to man. Before World War-I, influenza was
not considered as a public health threat. However, the great "Spanish flu" pandemic of 1918-1919 changed this perception. In only a few months, influenza was responsible for what was considered the worst plague in history, killing up to 40 million people with half of the world's population infected. The pandemic was of unprecedented virulence and was particularly fatal to young adults.
members of a family who had recently traveled to southern China. An outbreak of highly pathogenic H7N7 which began in the Netherlands in February caused the death of 1 veterinarians two months later and mild illness in 83 other humans. Mild cases of avian influenza virus infection occurred in 1999 and mid December2003.
Fowl Plague now known to be
symptoms depending on the species, age, sex and strain of the virus. The strains that cause Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza may reach even 100 per cent mortality in the bird. Signs may reflect abnormalities in respiratory, enteric, reproductive or nervous systems. The signs most commonly reported are decreased activity and feed consumption, emaciation; increased
Avian Influenza viruses do not normally infect species other than birds and pigs. The first documented infection of humans with an' avian- influenza virus occurred inTibrig Kong In 1997, when the H5N1 strain caused severe respiratory disease in 18 humans, of whom 6 died. In 2003,an outbreak in Hong Kong caused 2 cases and 1 death in
caused by highly pathogenic strains of avian influenza viruses was described by Perroncito as a serious diseases of chickens in Italy in 1878and caused by filter-, able agents (virus) by Centarini ■ and Savunozzi in 1901. However, it was not until 1955 that it was demonstrated fowl plague was actually type A influenza viruses.
The disease produces variable
broodiness in hens, decreased egg production, mild to severe respiratory signs including coughing, sneezing, rales and eXt'eSsivelaefithfition!1 huddling, ruffled featheri edemtf (accumulation of fluid) of the head and face; cyanosis of un-feathered skins, nervous disorder and diarrhea. However, in some cases the disease is rapidly fulminating and
birds are found dead without previous symptoms. Tile main source of transmission are migratory birds but infected bird, incontact birds, beddings, farm equipment may play important role in the disease transmission.
What makes Bird flu important
Why bird flu particularly H5N1 causes great concern? The virus has shown the capability to hop from avian host to human host and cases were lethal in majority of instant. But the main concern is the nature of influenza virus that mutates highly. There are two processes of mutation of flu viruses one is termed as antigenic drift and another is called antigenic shift. The first one is a comparatively slow process and like other viruses some changes in genetic material take place during its replication in the cell But other viruses have mechanisms to repair the changes that are absent in flu virus and eventually it leads to surfacing of new strain. But the most alarming is the second process of change.Tf there is a simultaneous infection of a cell by a human flu virus and other flu virus then they can exchange genetic material. If avian flu virus becomes successful in providing some of its genetic material to human flu then a new virus may emerge having a capacity to transmit from human to human and the situation is the initial fulfillment foronsetofflu pandemic.
Symptoms of bird flu
Published documents about the clinical course of human infection by avian influenza are limited. However, patients develop symptom of fever, sore throat,
cough and in several of the fatal cases severe respiratory distress secondary to viral pneumonia. Antiviral drugs some of which can be used for both prevention and treatment are clinically effective against influenza A virus in otherwise healthy adult and children but have some limitations like high cost and limited supply. Vaccines for human influenza are also available but production for vaccine of a new strain needs at least 4 months.
Bangladesh situation
Though Bangladesh has not ever experienced any avian influenza epidemic but it would be very difficult to remain non-infected if a pandemic starts. Since, managing influenza epidemic will need preparedness in many areas, a national committee comprising experts including avian and human virologists are necessary. This panel of experts can advise the government on the issue. However, surveillance of influenza virus both in humans and animals should be given top most priority. National Research Institutes and Universities' capabilities regarding sophisticated biotechnological research can be audited for exploring the possibilities of using reverse genetics system to evolve a vaccine among others. But care should be given to adequate bio-security measures to avoid any accidental infection or out break. Government should explore foreign - assistance for pandemic pre-1 paredhess. Regional cooperation and joint lobbying of least developed or regional countries can be proved fruitful in this regard.
The writer Is an official of Livestock Research
Institute