Novembre 2005 - Volume XXIV - numero 9

Medico e Bambino


Problemi correnti

Influenza aviaria: proviamo a fare chiarezza

LUISELLA GRANDORI

Responsabile Prevenzione vaccinale ACP

Indirizzo per corrispondenza: luisegra@tin.it

THE AVIAN FLU

Key words: Avian flu, Information, Prevention

The virus of influenza type A has as reservoir birds and it is a modified bird flu virus. There is an ongoing pandemic of avian flu among birds. The spread from birds to man has occurred and led in a few cases to death. Inter-human transmission of the infection has not been yet reported in Europe. The risk of an influenza pandemic, similar to the ones in 1918, 1957 and 1968, exists. However, in developed countries it is likely it would not lead to such a high mortality as during the Spanish Flu Pandemic. The available influenza vaccination will help against the “normal” winter flu epidemic but it will give no protection against the potential avian pandemic. There is currently no commercially available vaccine against the potential avian flu pandemic, which would be the result of unpredictable virus mutations. Moreover, to date antiviral drugs do not seem to offer an effective protection against this new potential virus. Right now it seems therefore reasonable to only implement a veterinary control policy (especially on poultry). Hence, the fear of the avian flu pandemic does not represent a reason to extend the seasonal influenza vaccination to healthy children.

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L. Grandori
Influenza aviaria: proviamo a fare chiarezza
Medico e Bambino 2005;24(9):601-603 https://www.medicoebambino.com/?id=0509_601.pdf


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