Emerging Influenza Strains in the Last Two Decades: A Threat of a New Pandemic?
In the last 20 years, novel non-seasonal influenza viruses have emerged, most of which have originated from birds. Despite their apparent inability to cause pandemics, with the exception of H1N1 swine influenza virus, these viruses still constitute a constant threat to public health. While general concern has decreased after the peak of the H5N1 virus, in recent years several novel reassorted influenza viruses (e.g., H7N9, H9N2, H10N8) have jumped the host-species barrier and are under surveillance by the scientific community and public health systems. It is still unclear whether these viruses can actually cause pandemics or just isolated episodes. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of old and novel potential pandemic strains of recent decades.
Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro, 53100 Siena, Italy. trombetta@unisi.it.
Claudia
C
Trombetta
VisMederi Srl, Enterprise of Service in Life Sciences, Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy. piccirella@vismederi.com.
Simona
S
Piccirella
VisMederi Srl, Enterprise of Service in Life Sciences, Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy. perini@vismederi.com.
Daniele
D
Perini
VisMederi Srl, Enterprise of Service in Life Sciences, Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy. otfried.kistner@chello.at.|Independent Consultant, Vienna 1221, Austria. otfried.kistner@chello.at.
Otfried
O
Kistner
Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro, 53100 Siena, Italy. emanuele.montomoli@unisi.it.|VisMederi Srl, Enterprise of Service in Life Sciences, Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy. emanuele.montomoli@unisi.it.
Emanuele
E
Montomoli
H10N8; H7N9; H9N2; novel influenza viruses; pandemic