H1N1 Influenza Viruses
Diagnosis: rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs), and direct immunofluorescence assays (DFAs) are lower than real time reverse polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests and viral culture.
Prevention: includes frequent hand washing and avoiding crowded settings where H1N1 is circulating. People with increased risk might consider face masks or respirators.
Symptoms: include acute respiratory illness (e.g., cough, sore throat, rhinorrhea) and fever, headaches, muscle aches. Vomiting and diarrhea has also been reported.
Treatment: Currently circulating 2009 H1N1 influenza viruses are sensitive to neuraminidase inhibitor antiviral medications oseltamivir and zanamivir, but are resistant to the adamantane antiviral medications, amantadine and rimantadine.
H5N1 Strains (Avian Influenza)
Nearly 400 human H5N1 infections have ben reported since 1997 with mortality in the above 60%. The recent spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) caused by the H5N1 strain across Asia, Europe and Africa raiser the possibility of a new pandemic should the virus mutate to become readily transmissible from person to person. The evolution of H5N1 into a pandemic threat could occur through a single reassortment of its segmented genome or through the slower process of genetic drift.