An analysis of the 2003 outbreak of avian influenza virus A/H7N7 in the Netherlands has confirmed large-scale human-to-human spread the disease, fueling concerns that avian flu could spark a human pandemic.
The analysis, published January 6 in Eurosurveillance Weekly (http://www.eurosurveillance.org), was based on a survey of about 400 poultry farmers and their families and nearly 900 individuals who worked to control the epidemic. Blood samples were taken from about 500 of the participants to identify those who may have been infected with the virus. Further studies were performed on 62 household contacts of 25 persons infected with the virus.
Routine serological tests failed to detect any antibodies, even in individuals with confirmed avian influenza conjunctivitis. A modified version of the test detected H7 antibodies in at least 50% of the individuals exposed to infected poultry. Based on these results, the researchers estimated 1000 to 2000 . . . [Full Text of this Article]
