Influenza is a contagious viral respiratory disease caused by influenza viruses, which are mainly classified into three main types: Influenza A, B, and C. Although Influenza C viruses usually only cause mild, cold-like illness, Influenza A and B viruses can cause epidemic diseases in humans.
Influenza A is subdivided according to the combination of hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) as in A(H1N1). However, Influenza B is subdivided into lineages like Influenza B/Yamagata and B/Victoria. The natural reservoir of Influenza viruses is aquatic birds, but they can occur in a range of mammalian species.
Pandemic Influenza is caused by a novel influenza that is introduced into a population where few people are immune. In the last hundred years, four global pandemics caused by Influenza viruses have occurred; the 1918 pandemic (Influenza A/H1N1), the 1957 Asian Flu pandemic (Influenza A/H2N2), the 1968 Hong Kong flu pandemic (Influenza A/H3N2), and the 2009 pandemic (Influenza A[H1N1]pdm09).
Worrying Spread of the Avian Influenza
Nowadays the world is facing the fastest-spreading and largest-ever outbreak of the H5N1 strain of Avian Influenza which poses a threat to biodiversity with a risk of spillover to humans as it continues to spread to different species.
This virus has already impacted at least 485 bird and 48 mammal species. Human cases are thought to have started at dairy farms in South America, by dairy workers infected by cows. Tests indicated the presence of Avian Influenza Virus in every 1 in 5 commercial milks in the USA, therefore authorities strongly advise only drinking pasteurized milk.
Although currently the case numbers are relatively low, through wild birds the Avian virus is spreading across a wide geography, threatening multiple other species in South America and Antarctica.
After the increasing concern about the spillover of the Avian Virus from animals into humans, countries like South Africa are increasing their efforts to detect Avian Influenza in humans. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) also recommends lowering the threshold for Avian Influenza testing in humans recommending testing all cases hospitalized with symptoms compatible with Avian Influenza.
Detection of Influenza Viruses
In the detection of Influenza viruses, Real-Time PCR Kits like Bosphore Influenza Typing Kit v2 provide accurate and convenient solutions in differentiating the diagnostics of different Influenza types, and like Bosphore Respiratory Pathogens Panel Kit v8 to quickly differentiate Influenza from other respiratory diseases that exhibit similar symptoms.
