Antibody response in individuals infected with avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses and detection of anti-H5 antibody among household and social contacts.
The first documented outbreak of human respiratory disease caused by avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses occurred in Hong Kong in 1997. The kinetics of the antibody response to the avian virus in H5N1-infected persons was similar to that of a primary response to human influenza A viruses; serum neutralizing antibody was detected, in general, >/=14 days after symptom onset. Cohort studies were conducted to assess the risk of human-to-human transmission of the virus. By use of a combination of serologic assays, 6 of 51 household contacts, 1 of 26 tour group members, and none of 47 coworkers exposed to H5N1-infected persons were positive for H5 antibody. One H5 antibody-positive household contact, with no history of poultry exposure, provided evidence that human-to-human transmission of the avian virus may have occurred through close physical contact with H5N1-infected patients. In contrast, social exposure to case patients was not associated with H5N1 infection.
Katz
J M
JM
Influenza Branch, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. jmk9@cdc.gov
Lim
W
W
Bridges
C B
CB
Rowe
T
T
Hu-Primmer
J
J
Lu
X
X
Abernathy
R A
RA
Clarke
M
M
Conn
L
L
Kwong
H
H
Lee
M
M
Au
G
G
Ho
Y Y
YY
Mak
K H
KH
Cox
N J
NJ
Fukuda
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D011200:Poultry / Q000821:virology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; C109963:hemagglutinin, avian influenza A virus