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Avian Influenza H9N2
Context:
The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed a case of human infection with bird flu caused by the H9N2 virus, in a four-year-old child from West Bengal, India.
More on News:
- The virus most likely infected the child through exposure to poultry at home or in the surrounding environment.
- The WHO has assessed the public health risk from the virus as low.
- Low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) A (H9N2) virus is different from the highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1), which is widely reported to cause outbreaks in poultry and US cattle.
- According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, LPAI A (H9N2) viruses have been reported in more than 100 people since 1998 and this is the second human case in India.
About Avian Influenza:
- Avian influenza or bird flu is a disease caused by infection with avian (bird) influenza (flu) Type A viruses.
- Transmission: These viruses naturally spread among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species.
- Wild aquatic birds, including gulls, terns, shorebirds, and wild waterfowl, such as ducks, geese and swans are considered reservoirs (hosts) for avian influenza A viruses.
- Human Infection: Bird flu viruses do not normally infect humans.
- However, Illness in humans from avian influenza virus infections has ranged in severity from no symptoms or mild illness to severe disease that resulted in death.
- Transmission to Humans through:
- Direct Contact: Infected birds can spread the virus through their breath, saliva, mucus, or stool. People can catch bird flu by direct contact with infected birds, their bedding, or stool.
- Indirect Contact: The virus can also be transmitted through indirect contact, such as touching an object with flu particles.
- Food and Animal Handling: Undercooked foods or raw dairy products in areas where bird flu has spread to dairy cows.
- Symptoms: Mild upper respiratory tract infection, Severe pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and even death.
- Avian influenza A viruses are classified into the following two categories:
- Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI):
- These viruses cause either no signs of disease or mild disease in chickens/poultry (such as ruffled feathers and a drop in egg production). E.g. H9N2.
- Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI):
- These viruses cause severe disease and high mortality in infected poultry. E.g. Subtypes (H5 and H7) of type A virus.
- Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI):
- About H9N2 avian influenza:
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- H9N2 avian influenza is LPAI and is a subtype of the influenza A virus that primarily infects birds but can also cause sporadic infections in humans.
- Most human cases of H9N2 infection result in mild illness.
- Symptoms: fever, breathing problems, pink eye, upset stomach, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
- In severe cases, complications like worsening of chronic lung conditions, ear and sinus infections, kidney problems, heart issues, and bleeding in the lungs can occur