Avian Influenza: Ethiology, Epidemiology, Vaccines and Risk of a Pandemia

Abstract

Few diseases have received as much attention and generated as much fear in the world population as the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza caused by an H5N1 virus that is currently present in some countries in Asia, Europe and Africa. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, also known as "Avian Plague", is a highly contagious viral disease that can affect birds of various domestic species such as chickens, chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, quail, Guinea fowl and also wild species. In domestic poultry populations, this systemic disease occurs with high morbidity and mortality rates, damaging the respiratory, digestive, nervous and reproductive systems, causing enormous losses to the poultry industry. In this talk we intend to provide some key elements on the etiology, epidemiology and prevention of this disease, also concentrating on the application of vaccines. Finally, we will address the risk that this disease of birds entails for the human population.