ABSTRACT
The ongoing H7N9 influenza epizootic in
China once again presents us questions about the origin of pandemics
and how to recognize
them in early stages of development. Over the
past ~135 years, H7 influenza viruses have neither caused pandemics nor
been
recognized as having undergone human adaptation.
Yet several unusual properties of these viruses, including their
poultry
epizootic potential, mammalian adaptation, and
atypical clinical syndromes in rarely infected humans, suggest that they
may
be different from other avian influenza viruses,
thus questioning any assurance that the likelihood of human adaptation
is
low. At the same time, the H7N9 epizootic
provides an opportunity to learn more about the mammalian/human
adaptational capabilities
of avian influenza viruses and challenges us to
integrate virologic and public health research and surveillance at the
animal-human
interface.
Footnotes
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Citation Morens DM, Taubenberger JK, Fauci AS. 2013. H7N9 Avian Influenza A Virus and the Perpetual Challenge of Potential Human Pandemicity. mBio 4(4):e00445-13. doi:10.1128/mBio.00445-13.
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