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H5N1: historics and pandemic potential Volume 15, issue 2, Avril-Mai-Juin 2012

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Author
Laboratoire de Virologie Est, Institut de Microbiologie, CNR des virus influenzae (Lyon), Hospices Civils de Lyon & Virologie et Pathologie humaine, EMR4610, UCBL, Université Lyon 1, Faculté de Médecine RTH Laennec, 69372 Lyon cedex 08, France

Influenza viruses are constantly in the news. After the emergence and spread of the virus H1N1 in 2009, new cases of H3N2 viruses from pigs have been reported in the United States, causing a dozen sporadic cases. These emergences reminder that the virus Type A influenza is a zoonotic disease that causes regular (but rarely) pandemics whose impact is variable. Among the virus has pandemic potential, the H5N1 virus is a peculiarity. Indeed, it is responsible for sporadic cases for over 10 years, and does not seem to show inclination to disappear nor to adapt to humans. The objectives of this review is to describe the current situation, to provide information of virus evolution as well as new knowledge about the H5N1 virus.