Influenza Signs and Symptoms

• Influenza is an acute febrile respiratory viral illness that usually occurs in annual outbreaks of varying severity and occasionally occurs in worldwide epidemics (pandemics) and as sporadic zoonotic infection
• It infects the respiratory tract, highly contagious, and typically produce prominent systemic symptoms early in the illness

Seasonal Influenza

• The types of influenza viruses known to infect humans are types A, B and C
• Types A and B are the main causes of influenza outbreaks

• Also known as bird flu, caused by type A strains of the influenza virus
• Influenza A(H5N1) is a subtype of the type A influenza virus and is the cause of the current outbreak of the avian influenza worldwide
  • Human transmission of another subtype, influenza A(H7N9), was first reported in 2013
• Although it is generally considered to be a disease that affects only birds, avian influenza viruses can infect several animal species (eg pigs, horses, seals, whales) but do not usually directly infect humans or circulate among humans
• Human transmission can be caused by exposure to droplet and direct/indirect contact with feces or nasal secretion of the sick animal
• Human-to-human transmission can possibly occur among close contacts

Influenza-Like Illness (ILI)

An acute respiratory infection with:

• Temperature of ≥37.8°C and
• Cough and
• Onset within the last 10 days

Seasonal Influenza

Typical Signs and Symptoms

• Abrupt onset of fever
• Severe myalgia and/or arthralgia
• Severe dry cough; pleuritic chest pain
• Loss of appetite, abdominal pain, diarrhea
• Headache
• Malaise, fatigue
• Sore throat
• Rhinitis

Zoonotic Influenza

Avian influenza A(H5N1) should be suspected in the following:

• Documented temperature of >38°C and
• ≥1 of the following: Cough, sore throat and/or shortness of breath and
• Contact history
  • History of contact with sick or dead poultry, family members with suspected or confirmed H5N1 infection, healthcare workers of suspected or confirmed H5N1 patients, lab workers handling specimens or viral cultures of H5N1 viruses
  • History of living in an endemic area or an environment with sick or dead poultry
  • If the patient only has a history of travel to endemic areas, risk assessment will need to be individualized

Avian Influenza A(H7N9)

• A subtype of influenza virus first reported in March 2013 in China
• Transmission is by direct contact with infected poultry or exposure to the environment of infected poultry
  • No human-to-human transmission has been recorded yet
• Signs and symptoms are the same as seasonal influenza, but most often accompanied by a history of severe pneumonia

Other reported presentations of avian influenza in humans:

• Typical influenza-like symptoms (abrupt onset with headache, high-grade fever, sore throat, chills, dry cough, malaise, myalgia, anorexia)
• Dyspnea or bloody sputum
• Chest pain
• Bleeding from the nose and gums
• GI upset (vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain)
• Neurological symptoms may occur (eg stupor, convulsions)
• Conjunctivitis
• Pneumonia/pneumonitis
• Acute respiratory distress