Pandemic

Influenza is an acute viral disease caused by Influenza A (sporadic, epidemic, and pandemic) or B (sporadic outbreaks) virus. Symptoms typically occur suddenly and include high fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, sore throat, and malaise. Serious complications can be caused by bacterial superinfection of the respiratory tract. 

As a result of the emergence of the extremely aggressive avian H5N1 influenza virus, the likelihood of a human influenza pandemic and the possible socioeconomic impact is now of major concern. In the absence of strain-independent anti-influenza drugs, there has been significant effort worldwide over the years in the quest for the discovery of novel therapeutic agents against all types of influenza. 

The development of sialidase-based inhibitors as anti-influenza drugs has provided a first line-of-defence to safeguard humanity against a potential pandemic and most importantly to buy time for vaccine and further anti-influenza drug development. Most exciting is that new opportunities exist for next generation sialidase inhibitor development. 

Islam T, von Itzstein M (2007) Anti-influenza drug discovery are we ready for the next pandemic Adv Carbohydr Chem Biochem 61 293-352... 

Laver G, Garman E (2002) Pandemic influenza its origin and control. Microbes Infect 4 1309-1316... 

Tai CY, Escarpe PA, Sidwell RW, WiUiams MA, Lew W, Wu H, Kim CU, Mendel DB (1998) Characterization of human influenza virus variants selected in vitro in the presence of the neuraminidase inhibitor GS 4071, Antimicrob Agents Chemother 42 3234-3241 Thomson MM, Najera R (2005) Molecular epidemiology of HlV-1 variants in the global AIDS pandemic an update. AIDS Rev 7 210-224... 

In the early period of the pandemic, before the development of sensitive and reliable instruments to diagnose early infection, only patients with advanced AIDS presented to health care facilities. As a result, the estimates and projects of the costs for HIV/AIDS patients based on observed health care utilization were high. For example, Scitovsky and Rice estimated the annual costs of AIDS care in the United States in 1985, 1986, and 1991 to be US 630 million, US 1.1 billion, and US 8.5 billion, respectively these costs represented the direct and indirect costs of HIV infections (Scitovsky and Rice 1987 Scitovsky 1988, 1989). More than 80% of these costs stemmed from losses in productivity, a reflection of the fact that AIDS has afflicted primarily working-age adults. The great increase in total costs by 1991 is caused by a projected increase in the prevalence. 

Joseph EK, Chen X et al (2004) Novel mechanism of enhanced nociception in a model of AIDS therapy-induced painful peripheral neuropathy in the rat. Pain 107(1-2) 147-158 Jubelt B, Berger JR (2001) Does viral disease underlie ALS Lessons from the AIDS pandemic. Neurology 57(6) 945-946... 

In parts of the world (sub-Sahran African and southern and South-East Asia) the ADDS pandemic is out of control, with no effective chemotherapeutic agents and little prospect of a vaccine the prognoses are bleak for the millions of HIV-infected individuals. Sexual intercourse is now the main mode of infection and if the pandemic is to be contained, sexually active individuals have to be persuaded to reduce the niunbers of their sex partners and to practise safe sex using condoms. 

Dreyfuss, M. S. (2009). Is norovirus a foodborne or pandemic pathogen An analysis of the transmission of norovirus-associated gastroenteritis and the roles of food and food handlers. Foodborne Pathog. Dis. 6,1219-1228. 

Cholera, the first reportable disease, is endemic in South Asia, particularly in the Ganges delta region.2 The biotypes of Vibrio cholerae responsible for pandemics are serogroup 01 (El Tor) and serogroup 0139.16,17 Cholera can be transmitted by water or by food contaminated with contaminated water, particularly undercooked seafood. V. cholerae grows well in warm temperatures, causing marked seasonality in the incidence of cholera.2... 

Rita R. Colwell. Global Climate and Infectious Disease The Cholera Paradigm. Science. 274 (Dec. 20, 1996) 2025-2031. Source for cholera and six pandemics. 

Williams, T. L. Musser, S. M. Nordstrom, J. L. DePaola, A. Monday, S. R. Identification of a protein biomarker unique to the pandemic 03 K6 clone of Vibrio para-haemolyticus. J. Clin. Microbiol. 2004. 

Oseltamivir, better known as Tamiflu, is the antiviral worldwide employed for the treatment of influenza (flu). Due to the importance of that drug for treating regular seasonal flu and its potential use in the case of pandemic flu scenarios, it is... 

Vibrio cholerae 01 is the serogroup that most often causes human epidemics and pandemics. Four mechanisms for transmission have been proposed Animal reservoirs, chronic carriers, asymptomatic or mild disease victims, or water reservoirs. 

In the era of pandemic preparedness and increasing resistance, early and definitive diagnosis of influenza is crucial. The currently available antiviral drugs are most effective if started within 48 hours of the onset of illness. Adjunct agents, such as acetaminophen for fever or an antihistamine for rhinitis, may be used concomitantly with the antiviral drugs. 

Pandemic Denoting a disease affecting or attacking the population of an extensive region, country, continent extensively epidemic. 

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