I would caution that to describe HPAI H5N1 as "pandemic influenza" is very inappropriate. You wrote:
"...The same surveillance systems used to track “regular” flu are also used to monitor
for the emergence of pandemic influenza — like H5N1. ..."
H5N1 is currently an avian influenza that has demonstrated enormous virulence as an epizootic (all avian species), and with a disturbingly high case fatality rate where it has infected roughly 860 humans (since 1997), but it has NOT yet evolved to be capable of sustained person-to-person spread in a quarter-century, largely because of the Sialic acid receptor incompatibility in the human upper respiratory epithelium.
Have you heard about IAV in bats? Just posted it today. Another potential spillover and quite interesting. I do think we are better prepared for H5N1 and its Reassortment.
I would caution that to describe HPAI H5N1 as "pandemic influenza" is very inappropriate. You wrote:
"...The same surveillance systems used to track “regular” flu are also used to monitor
for the emergence of pandemic influenza — like H5N1. ..."
H5N1 is currently an avian influenza that has demonstrated enormous virulence as an epizootic (all avian species), and with a disturbingly high case fatality rate where it has infected roughly 860 humans (since 1997), but it has NOT yet evolved to be capable of sustained person-to-person spread in a quarter-century, largely because of the Sialic acid receptor incompatibility in the human upper respiratory epithelium.
Have you heard about IAV in bats? Just posted it today. Another potential spillover and quite interesting. I do think we are better prepared for H5N1 and its Reassortment.
Does anyone know if the current available vaccine is effective against the KP 2 variant?