Current opinions in highly pathogenic avian influenza A/HSN1 infection in human being

The avian influenza virus A/HSN1, known to infect only birds previously, broke the species-interface to infect human beings in Hong Kong in 1997. In the 21st century,highly pathogenic avian influenza viruse A/H5N1 is unprecedently spreading to the continents of Asia, Middle East and Africa, involving 15 countries. The mortality is over 60% and this incidence raises universally,concerning about the possibility that such an influenza virus might become the next influenza pandemic strain. This review summarizes the current opinions of avian influenza A/H5N1 with emphasis on virology, epidemiology, pathology and pathogenesis. Key words: Avian influenza; A/H5N1