Avian influenza virus (H9N2)

About the Avian Influenza virus (H9N2):

• H9N2 is a subtype of influenza, a virus that causes human influenza as well as bird flu.
• This virus is found worldwide in wild birds and is endemic to poultry in many areas.
• Poultry is considered a genetic incubator for the origin of the H9N2 novel avian influenza virus that infects humans.
• Symptoms
  • Infections range from mild, flu-like symptoms or eye inflammation to severe, acute respiratory disease or death.
  • The severity of the disease depends on the virus causing the infection and the characteristics of the infected individual.
• Prevention: Maintaining personal and hand hygiene, including washing hands with soap, before and after contact with animals is essential to avoid being infected by the virus.

Classification of Influenza:

• The influenza virus, which causes illness, is classified by WHO into four types: A, B, C, and D.
• According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only the influenza A and B viruses are known to cause epidemics.
• The C-type virus usually causes mild respiratory illnesses, while the D-type virus typically affects cattle and is not known to infect humans.
• Only the influenza A virus is divided into subtypes, and the subtype is based on two proteins on the surface of the virus, hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N).