The potential use of influenza virus as an agent for bioterrorism.
Influenza A virus has been responsible for widespread human epidemics because it is readily transmitted from humans to humans by aerosol. Recent events have highlighted the potential of influenza A virus as a bioterrorist weapon: the high virulence of the influenza A virus that infected people in Hong Kong in 1997; and the development of laboratory methods to generate influenza A viruses by transfection of DNAs without a helper virus. Antiviral drugs that are directed at functions shared by all influenza A viruses constitute the best line of defense against a bioterrorist attack. Consequently, new antiviral drugs need to be developed, and the few currently available antiviral drugs should be stockpiled.
Krug
Robert M
RM
Section of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin, 2500 Speedway, Austin, TX 78712, USA. rkrug@icmb.utexas.edu
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023482:Bioterrorism; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology
D000998:Antiviral Agents