An unprecedented epizootic avian
influenza a (h5n1) virusthat is highly pathogenic has crossed the species barrier in Asia to cause many
human fatalities and poses an increasing pandemic threat. This summary describes
the features of human infection with influenza A (H5N1) and reviews recommendations
for prevention and clinical management presented in part at the recent
World Health Organization (WHO) Meeting on Case Management and Research on
Human Influenza A/H5, which was held in Hanoi, May 10 through 12, 2005.
1Becausemany critical questions remain, modifications of these recommendations are likely.
incidence
The occurrence of human influenza A (H5N1) in Southeast Asia (Table 1) has paralleled
large outbreaks of avian influenza A (H5N1), although the avian epidemics in 2004 and
2005 have only rarely led to disease in humans. The largest number of cases has occurred
in Vietnam, particularly during the third, ongoing wave, and the first human death was
recently reported in Indonesia. The frequencies of human infection have not been determined,
and seroprevalence studies are urgently needed. The expanding geographic
distribution of avian influenza A (H5N1) infections, with recent outbreaks in Kazakstan,
Mongolia, and Russia, indicates that more human populations are at risk.
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