The highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 - initial molecular signals for the next influenza pandemic.

A new pandemic influenza in the human world may originate from avian reservoirs. Influenza is one of the most widely spread zoonotic infectious diseases. All avian influenza viruses are type A, and they have often caused pandemics throughout human history. The highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza A viruses have now been spreading to many countries in Asia, Europe and Africa. They have infected an increasing number of humans in at least 15 countries in the world. This paper describes recent advances in the mechanism of transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza to humans and measures for control of a new pandemic.