Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2009 Jun;15(6):859-65.
doi: 10.3201/eid1506.090072.

Past, present, and possible future human infection with influenza virus A subtype H7

Jessica A Belser  1 , Carolyn B Bridges, Jacqueline M Katz, Terrence M Tumpey
Affiliations
Review

Past, present, and possible future human infection with influenza virus A subtype H7

Jessica A Belser et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2009 Jun.

Abstract

Influenza A subtype H7 viruses have resulted in >100 cases of human infection since 2002 in the Netherlands, Italy, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Clinical illness from subtype H7 infection ranges from conjunctivitis to mild upper respiratory illness to pneumonia. Although subtype H7 infections have resulted in a smaller proportion of hospitalizations and deaths in humans than those caused by subtype H5N1, some subtype H7 strains appear more adapted for human infection on the basis of their virus-binding properties and illness rates among exposed persons. Moreover, increased isolation of subtype H7 influenza viruses from poultry and the ability of this subtype to cause severe human disease underscore the need for continued surveillance and characterization of these viruses. We review the history of human infection caused by subtype H7. In addition, we discuss recently identified molecular correlates of subtype H7 virus pathogenesis and assess current measures to prevent future subtype H7 virus infection.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure
Figure
Public health impact of influenza virus A subtypes H7 and H5. HPAI, highly pathogenic avian influenza; LPAI, low pathogenicity avian influenza; LBM, live bird market.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. World Organisation for Animal Health. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (fowl plague). In: Cullen GA, Linnance S, editors. Manual of standards for diagnostic tests and vaccines. 3rd ed. Paris: The Organisation; 1996. p. 155–60.
    1. Peiris M, Yuen KY, Leung CW, Chan KH, Ip PL, Lai RW, et al. Human infection with influenza H9N2. Lancet. 1999;354:916–7. 10.1016/S0140-6736(99)03311-5 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Taubenberger JK. Influenza virus hemagglutinin cleavage into HA1, HA2: no laughing matter. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1998;95:9713–5. 10.1073/pnas.95.17.9713 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Thompson WW, Shay DK, Weintraub E, Brammer L, Bridges CB, Cox NJ, et al. Influenza-associated hospitalizations in the United States. JAMA. 2004;292:1333–40. 10.1001/jama.292.11.1333 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Writing Committeee of the Second World Health Organization Consultation on Clinical Aspects of Human Infection with Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus, Abdel-Ghafar AN, Chotpitayasunondh T, Gao Z, Hayden FG, Nguyen DH, et al. Update on avian influenza A (H5N1) virus infection in humans. N Engl J Med. 2008;358:261–73. 10.1056/NEJMra0707279 - DOI - PubMed

MeSH terms