Project

IFS

Avian influenza pandemic risk assessment and preparedness

▷ The objectives of this study are as follows:
● assess the risk of a pandemic by predicting the occurrence of human infection with avian influenza
● suggest measures to prevent an avian influenza pandemic, and
● Provide countermeasures in the event of an avian influenza pandemic.

▷ The content of this study can be categorized into five main parts:
● Summarizing cases of avian influenza virus infection in humans
● Summarize cases of avian influenza virus infections in animals
● Estimating the risk of human-to-human transmission of avian influenza viruses
● Identify strategies to reduce human-to-human transmission of avian influenza viruses
● Identify actions to take in the event of an avian influenza pandemic

▷ Summary of cases of avian influenza virus infection in humans:
● There are no human cases of avian influenza virus infection in Korea yet
● Summarize cases of avian influenza virus infection in foreign countries, especially the severity of the disease by subtype
● Summarize symptoms of avian influenza virus infections in humans
● Seroprevalence testing to identify cases with milder symptoms

▷ Summary of cases of avian influenza infections in animals:
● Organize outbreaks by industrial, companion, and wildlife species
● Organize outbreaks by industry, pets, and wildlife


Organized in detail:
● Determine the ecological and environmental pandemic risk of avian influenza at the current animal stage (epidemic pattern, geographic spread, type of virus, expanding animal species affected)
● Determine whether avian influenza can spread from humans to animals (spillback, reverse zoonosis)

▷ Predicting the risk of human-to-human transmission of avian influenza:
● Summarize confirmed cases of human-to-human transmission
● Organize mutations that facilitate human-to-human transmission
● Review of models that predict human-to-human transmission

▷ Identify strategies to reduce human-to-human transmission of avian influenza viruses:
● Discuss whether or not to conduct surveillance for avian influenza outbreaks and the appropriate models to use
● Review diagnostic tests for avian influenza
● Review avian influenza vaccines available for animals
● Review avian influenza vaccines available for humans
● Review data on the efficacy of antiviral agents against influenza A viruses against avian influenza viruses
● Review of one health strategies

▷ Present actions to take in the event of an avian influenza pandemic:
● Establish crisis tiers (Concern, Caution, Vigilance, Severe) for increasing avian influenza outbreaks
● Securing and distributing avian influenza medications
● Manufacture or obtain and distribute avian influenza vaccine
● Provide recommendations to improve response measures to address weaknesses in Korea's response policies learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.