Influenza: novel virus

Generalities
Agent	- Emergence of novel subtypes of Influenza A virus due to antigenic shift. Types B and C do not have subtypes. - Infection with novel influenza virus is a mandatory notifiable disease. Seasonal (common flu) influenza virus is not mandatory notifiable disease.
Incubation period	2-7 days
Period of transmissibility	- Usually, 3-5 days before onset and until 7 days after onset - Patient may remain infctious for 3 weeks.
Reservoir	Aquatic birds, domestic poultry, mammalian (pigs, horses, whales, seals, ferrets, cats…)
Modes of transmission	1) Animal-to-person: - Airbone, while slaughtering, defeathering, handling carcasses of infected poultry - Consumption of raw contaminated poultry - Direct contact with infected animals 2) Person-to-person: - Direct and/or indirect contact with droplets of infected person - Airborne (in case of aerosol-generated procedures) from an infected person
Clinical presentation	- Upper respiratory infection - Complication: lower respiratory infection
Resources
Case definitions	- MOPH circular no. 38 (2012): Novel Influenza - MOPH circular no. 66 (2007): Novel Influenza A(H5N1) - MOPH circular no. 60 (2013): Novel Influenza A(H7N9)
Forms	- General reporting form - Novel Influenza investigation form - Novel Influenza PCR request form
Data	- Human cases: non case confirmed of A(H5N1) and A(H7N9) in Lebanon up to 2015 - Animal cases: Influenza A(H5N1) detected in poultry farms in Baalbeck caza in 2016. The containment plan was activated in 21 April 2016.