title: H7N9: A killer in the making or a false alarm?
abstract: Influenza virus remains one of the most important disease-causing viruses owing to its high adaptability and even higher contagious nature. Thus, it poses a constant threat of pandemic, engulfing a large population within the smallest possible time interval. A similar threat was anticipated with the identification of the novel H7N9 virus in China on 30 March 2013. Detection of transmission of the virus between humans has caused a stir with the identification of family clusters along with sporadic infections all across China. In this review we analyze the potential of the novel H7N9 virus as a probable cause of a pandemic and the possible consequences thereof.
authors.affiliation: a Virology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India.
authors.forename: Himani
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nailwal
authors.forename: Komal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kamra
authors.forename: Sunil K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D064766:Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity; D014774:Virulence; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D011991:Receptors, Virus
keywords: H7N9; contagieux; contagious; infectieux; infectious; influenza; pandemic; pandémie