Introduction | The Virus | Strains | Antegenic Shift/Drift | Symptoms | H5N1 | Infection | Resevoirs of Infection | Conclusion

Conclusion

Discoveries found about the last 3 pandemics

Scientists in United States of America have found out recently that in the three major pandemics (Spanish Flu, Hong Kong Flu and Asian Flu) in the last century were caused by the avian influenza virus instead of the human influenza virus. The avian influenza viruses responsible for the three pandemics are not “smart” virus as they kill the hosts (either bird or human). Although the viruses are very devastating, they were not spreaded easily as the viruses tend to die together with the host body. Therefore, the viruses died off by themselves after a while.

Like all types of parasites, the avian influenza virus' aim should instead be to expand its colony. Unfortunately for us, scientists discovered that the avian influenza viruses have mutated genetically to become “smart” viruses in recent times in order to make sure that the host does not die so that the viruses can be spreaded to other hosts.

Comparison between Avian Flu, Flu and SARS

Overall Conclusion

In conclusion, we feel that all of us should be mentally prepared for a global pandemic of the influenza to occur. According to experts of the influenza virus, as a global pandemic of the influenza virus has not occurred in this century, there is a high possibility for one to occur within the next couple of years and a global pandemic is bound to occur – it is just a matter of time for the influenza to develop a new strain.

Although human infection of the avian influenza virus is often associated with people who have close contact with poultry, the deadly avian influenza virus is constantly growing and developing over the course of time by antigenic drift and antigenic shift. We have yet to fully understand the influenza virus and its impact in humans. There are many unanswered questions left blank. The difference between Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI) and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is still unclear as some HPAI viruses do not cause any significant illness at all.

Nevertheless, organisations all over the world, like the World Health Organisation (WHO), is actively monitoring the situation of the influenza virus and their outbreaks in various parts of the world, hoping to find some patterns and properties of the virus in order to protect the world community. However, for the rest of us, we should be constantly on the look out and on our guards to be regularly updated about the current situation of the influenza virus so that we will not be panicking our lives in times of danger.