Abstract

ALFONSO, P. THREATS AND RISK REDUCTION OPPORTUNITIES BY INFLUENZA VIRUSES AT THE ANIMAL-HUMAN INTERFACE. Rev Salud Anim. [online]. 2010, vol.32, n.1, pp.1-10. ISSN 0253-570X.

Animal influenza viruses threaten humans due to zoonosis and occasionally producing pandemics, such as those three occurred in the last century, each of which caused millions of human deaths. Currently another pandemic has spread to 174 countries or territories over the world in less than four month, infecting more than two thousand individuals with a case fatality rate of 0.89%. This event concurs with other threats for influenza viruses that could either worsening it or at least substitute it. Hazard identification is the initial task for planning risk mitigation. Husbandry practices among others have resulted in the establishment of these viruses in several animal species and occasionally infect humans with a variable spectrum of severity. Main threats among avian strains are H5N1, H7 and H9N2, whereas swine influenza viruses are also considered. Opportunity for risk mitigation are judged deals with both technical and organization measures for raising animals, surveillance and notification strategies, and sanitary education, among others. Risks for human health associated to influenza virus evolution in avian and swine, demands firm regulatory exigencies on biosecurity of animal operations and the improvement of surveillance and notification efforts.

Keywords : hazard; risk analysis; virus influenza; zoonosis; pandemic.

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