title: Understanding of and possible strategies to avian influenza outbreak.
abstract: Swine flu and avian flu outbreaks have occurred in recent years in addition to seasonal flu. As mortality rate records are not available at the early stage of an outbreak, two parameters may be useful to assess the viral virulence : 1. the time required for the first domestic case in a newly involved region, and 2. the doubling time of new infected cases. Viral virulence is one of the most important factors in guiding short term and immediate responses. Although routine surveillance and repeated vaccination are useful efforts, some novel strategies that may be relevant to prevent and control the spread of influenza among human beings and domestic animals are discussed.
authors.forename: Junkang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Huifen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sirois
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Biopharmaceutics, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China. kaili34@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001717:Birds; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000662:veterinary; D006801:Humans; D064766:Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control