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Global influenza pandemic – An absolute certainty

By: Andrew Taylor, Wed Mar 15th, 2006 07:37:17 PM

We know we're overdue for an influenza pandemic strain and we know it will occur, but we don't know when or even exactly what virus will cause it. - Dick Thompson

Influenza is a global phenomenon. The seasonal flu virus attacking human body is a common feature in every country. Generally, the flu is not considered as a major health threat but when it develops into ‘influenza pandemic’, the equation changes drastically. Millions of people have been killed worldwide by the influenza pandemics in the last century.

Influenza pandemic has the following features –

• It occurs when a new influenza a virus appears in the human population.
• his virus causes serious illness in the human body.
• This virus is highly contagious and spreads very easily from man-to-man.
• It has global ramifications.

Seasonal outbreaks are caused by subtypes of influenza viruses that already circulate among people, whereas pandemic outbreaks are caused by new subtypes that have never circulated among people, or by subtypes that have not circulated among people for a long time.

An influenza epidemic affects a smaller geographical area while an influenza pandemic has a global reach.

• Spanish flu of 1918-19 that killed around 50 million worldwide.
• Asian flu of 1957-58 that killed around 4 million worldwide.
• Hong Kong flu of 1968-69 that killed 1 million worldwide.

Pandemic viruses emerge due to a process known as "antigenic shift,” which causes an abrupt or sudden major change(s) in influenza A viruses. These change(s) are caused by new combination(s) of the HA and/or NA proteins on the surface of the virus. Such change(s) result in a new influenza A virus subtype.

The latest health scare in the world – the bird flu – has the medical fraternity worldwide worried. The ever-increasing number of countries, birds and humans suffering from the brunt of avian influenza has caused a global health concern as a potential influenza pandemic.

Fortunately, the drug Tamiflu is found effective against the bird flu virus transmitting to humans. The experts believe in bird flu prevention rather than its treatment. Tamiflu is produced by Swiss pharma major Roche and one can also buy tamiflu online after proper prescription from the doctor.

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