Certain avian influenza viruses occasionally infect humans,
causing severe disease in those affected. However, most of these viruses fail
to cause widespread human outbreaks because their replication is inefficient in
the upper respiratory tract, which limits human-to-human transmission. Public
health experts monitor these viruses closely because small genetic changes
could increase their transmissibility.

Which statement best explains why some bird flu viruses are
considered a “pandemic waiting to happen”?

Question

Certain avian influenza viruses occasionally infect humans,
causing severe disease in those affected. However, most of these viruses fail
to cause widespread human outbreaks because their replication is inefficient in
the upper respiratory tract, which limits human-to-human transmission. Public
health experts monitor these viruses closely because small genetic changes
could increase their transmissibility.

Which statement best explains why some bird flu viruses are
considered a “pandemic waiting to happen”?

Accepted Answer

Inefficient
replication in the upper respiratory tract prevents current human-to-human
transmission, but mutations could increase transmissibility

Answer

Their
high pathogenicity in humans alone makes a pandemic inevitable

Answer

Most
bird flu viruses are mild in humans, so they are unlikely to ever cause a
pandemic

Answer

They
already transmit efficiently between humans, so pandemics are unavoidable

Crowdly

Certain avian influenza viruses occasionally infect humans, causing severe dise...

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