Avian Influenza When avian influenza hits will science have an efficient vaccine?

Origin Of Avian Influenza ► Avian Influenza also know as Bird Flu is an infectious disease caused by type A H5N1 Strain of influenza virus. ► This virus is transmissible from fowl to human or human to human ► The most abundant outbreaks are in the more Central Northern region of Asia

Origin Of Avian Influenza ► Avian Influenza also know as Bird Flu is an infectious disease caused by type A H5N1 Strain of influenza virus. ► This virus is transmissible from human to fowl or human to human ► The most abundant outbreaks are in the more Central Northern region of Asia

The Bird Flu Strain ► After virus transfers into a new host either avian or mammalian, influenza viruses undergo rapid evolution

Spread ► It is easy to spread bird flu in the Central region of Asia because of the day to day contact with people and fowls ► 83% of the H5N1 host were from backyard chickens and ducks ► Some of the birds that are infected are migratory

Prevention ► In order to prevent spread of the virus people have tried to eliminate infected poultry. ► At the cost of 10 billion dollars 140 million chickens and ducks have been slaughtered

Prevention cont. ► Most people also have a since of awareness and are more educated.  The percentage of adults who though that picking up or touching sick or dead poultry was safe decreased from 40% to 14%  70% of people say that they wear gloves or a protective mask when dealing with fowl.

Vaccine Problems ► These preventions are not as efficient as a vaccination. ► Vaccines are currently being made available for the avian influenza, but it is made for present day flu strains which will mutate eventually. ► Then a new vaccine will have to be made

Can not make enough ► We still depend on eggs to make our flu vaccines ► 900 million doses of vaccine can be produced every 6 months  Because this virus is new to our body we will need 2 doses  Way around this is to add a strong boost of a chemical called adjuvant ► But not enough research has been developed to know how much dosage a person would have to take

Distribution ► Avian Influenza companies have not worked out how they are going to distribute the vaccine  Too many big orders from different countries  manufactures do not know what country to give the vaccination to first  Some orders may never be fulfilled because the vaccine is in such demand

Distribution cont. ► Rich countries will have much less scarcity than the poor countries ► 70% of the worlds manufacturing capacity is in five countries in Western Europe  These countries might be reluctant to share with out making sure that their country first has an adequate amount

Will Scientist be able to find an efficient vaccine? ► If no efficient vaccine is made experts say that when the virus strain changes that there will be 25 million hospital admissions and up to 7 million global deaths will happen

Conclusion ► Bird Flu is a serious virus and should not be overlooked ► The virus will spread fast ► Despite all of the efforts we make to prevent avian influenza if there is no efficient vaccine made than millions will die

Avian Influenza Presented by Ogechi Angel Egbujor