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British Medical Bulletin 2006 75-76(1):63-80; doi:10.1093/bmb/ldh063
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Published online 8 May 2006

© The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The British Council. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Influenza: current threat from avian influenza

Iain Stephenson* and Jane Democratis

Infectious Diseases Unit, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester LE1 5WW, UK

* Correspondence to: Iain Stephenson, Infectious Diseases Unit, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester LE1 5WW, UK. Tel.: +44 116 258 6952; fax: +44 116 258 5067; e-mail: iain.stephenson{at}uhl-tr.nhs.uk

Influenza is an infectious respiratory pathogen causing annual outbreaks and infrequent pandemics, resulting in significant morbidity, mortality and burdens on the delivery of health care. The geographical spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 among poultry and wild bird populations is unprecedented. Growing numbers of sporadic avian influenza infections are occurring in humans, increasing the threat of the next influenza pandemic. Vaccines are the principle means of combating influenza, and a number of studies with H5N1 vaccine candidates are underway. Antiviral agents can be used to treat influenza infection and can be taken as chemoprophylaxis during influenza outbreaks. Oseltamivir has been stockpiled as part of influenza pandemic preparedness planning; however, the emergence of drug resistance may limit its clinical use.

Keywords: avian influenza • influenza • vaccines • antivirals


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