Human H5N1 Flu in Missouri 2024 and In Asia and Egypt 1997-2009

This book offers historical context for the 2024 USA outbreaks of H5N1 Avian Influenza A in humans, birds, cattle, cats, and other animals. From the initial outbreaks in 1997 in Hong Kong, to subsequent spread into Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and across Asia to Egypt, the fear of a human pandemic of this virus starting in Asia drove global preparedness until 2009. The author, who travelled from 2004-2009 to China, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and Egypt to meet with colleagues fighting H5N1 avian influenza virus, provides over 100 real-time commentaries on the spread of the virus and global actions written during these five years. The unexpected emergence in 2009 of a new human pandemic influenza virus, pH1N1, in North America, rather than H5N1 avian influenza virus from Asia, abruptly decreased the focus on the pandemic threat of H5N1 avian influenza. The virus did not disappear, however, or stop mutating and spreading. In early 2024 it was recognized in the USA infecting dairy cattle for the first time. As of mid-September 2024, of the 14 Americans who have been infected, only one has been hospitalized (in Missouri August 22) and none have died. In contrast, over 920 laboratory-confirmed infections have occurred worldwide since 1997, and 51% have died. Even so, this patient hospitalized in Missouri had no known exposure to any animals or foods that might explain the source of the infection. Thus, concern over the beginning of person-to-person spread of this virus has been raised. While acknowledging this ever-valid concern, the author discusses published evidence of similar limited, non-sustained, person-to-person transmission in Asia, especially between family members and rarely health care workers 1997-2007. — ASIN: B0DJBHTHNM | ISBN13: 9798340477644 | ISBN-13: 979-8340477644