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acquire the ability to become hu-man-adapted and efficiently trans-missible, it would very likely cause abig
pandemic
.”Since we can’t predict when thenext influenza pandemic will occuror which strain of the virus will causeit, NIH’s National Institute of Allergyand Infectious Diseases (NIAID) isfunding many different approachesto get us ready.If health officials could quicklyfigure out which flu virus they’redealing with, they would havea better chance of preventing apandemic. A good diagnostic testwould allow a doctor to distinguishbetween a routine case of seasonalflu and avian flu. That’s whyresearchers have been working hardto develop a test that would allowlabs across the country to rapidlydiagnose flu infections.Every so often, a flu virus emergesthat’s so different, human immunesystems aren’t at all prepared to fightit. Historically, they’ve infected peo-ple by “jumping” from animals, mostcommonly birds. People can becomeinfected when they’re in close con-tact with infected birds, such as whileslaughtering or preparing poultry,drinking water contaminated withdroppings of infected birds or whenthey allow infected birds to roamfreely in their living areas. Animaland human viruses can also mixin the body when someone’sinfected with both to pro-duce other new viruses.You’ve probablyheard about a classof bird, or avian, fluviruses called H5N1.“H” and “N” stand forparticular proteinson the surface of the influenza virusthat change fre-quently. H5N1 vi-ruses have infectedbirds throughoutSoutheast Asia andare now spreadinginto Central Asia,Africa and Europe.When peoplehave become infected, the resultshave often been fatal. By December2006, the World Health Organizationconfirmed over 250 human cases of H5N1 and more than 150 deaths.So far, these viruses haven’t beenable to move easily between people,but that could change. Dr. Jeffery Taubenberger of the Laboratory of Infectious Diseases at NIH warnedat a recent talk, “If this virus were to
National Institutes of Health
•
Department of Health and Human Services
•
 
newsinhealth.nih.gov
December 2006
Researchers are racing to prevent thenext deadly flu outbreak. Outbreaksin 1918, 1957 and 1968 killed millionsworldwide. No one knows how fatalthe next one could be, so researchersare taking as many different ap-proaches as they can to prepare us tofight it if it comes.Seasonal flu, or influenza, viruseschange slightly over time, allowingthe virus to evade our
immune sys-tems
. That’s why there’s a new sea-sonal flu shot every year: to protectyou from the newest strains, or variet-ies, of virus. Healthy people, even if they don’t get a flu shot, aren’t usu-ally seriously threatened by seasonalflu. But it can be severe for the veryyoung, the elderly and those with aweakened immune system. Seasonalflu causes 36,000 deaths and morethan 200,000 hospitalizations everyyear in the U.S.
Preventing a Pandemic
Preparing for the Next Deadly Flu Outbreak
Inside News
1
Preventing a Pandemic
3
Learn the AIDS Link 
4
Health Capsules
 
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Late Angioplasty After a Heart Attack  
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Longer Life, for Mice 
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Web Site: ToxMystery
Definitions
Immune System
 The system that protects your bodyfrom invading viruses, bacteria andother microscopic threats.
Pandemic
An outbreak of disease that spreadsto people in many different parts of the world.
continued on page 2
 
www3.niaid.nih.gov/news/focuson/fluwww.PandemicFlu.gov
 This summer, NIAID-funded scien-tists from the University of Coloradoworked with the Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention to develop atest called the FluChip. It can distin-guish among several seasonal andavian flu strains in less than 12 hours.More recently, the same team devel-oped the MChip, a simplified test thatdistinguishes among flu strains by fo-cusing on the “M” virus protein, whichdoesn’t change as often as the H andN proteins. Plans are now under wayto commercialize the MChip.When it comes to fighting a pan-demic, the first thing that may cometo mind is a vaccine. Results fromearlier this year show that researchersmay be on the path to developing avaccine to protect people.
2
December 2006
NIH News in Health
 
(ISSN 1556-3898)
National Institutes of Health
 Office of Communications& Public LiaisonBuilding 31, Room 5B38Bethesda, MD 20892-2090
newsinhealth.nih.gov
Editor
 
Harrison Wein, Ph.D.
 weinh@od.nih.gov Tel: 301-435-7489 Fax: 301-496-0019
Contributors
Margaret Georgiann (illustrations),Harrison Wein and other NIHcommunications staff.
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continued from page 1
Researchers supported by NIAIDdesigned an experimental vaccinebased on an H5N1 virus originallyisolated in Southeast Asia in 2004. Ina series of studies, they gave peopledifferent doses of the vaccine andtested to see how much
antibody
, avirus-fighting molecule, their bodiesmade. They found that the higherthe dose of vaccine people received,the more antibodies they produced.Researchers are continuing to im-prove on this vaccine and are nowtesting it in children and the elderly.Several ways to make more ef-fective avian flu vaccines are beingtested. One method is to use im-mune-boosting compounds calledadjuvants. Back in 2004, NIAID askedNovartis Vaccines and Diagnostics touse an adjuvant to produce a vaccine
NIH News in Health
Antibody
A virus-fighting molecule madeby the immune system.
Definitions
against H9N2, an avian flu that in-fected two children in Hong Kong in1999. In a preliminary trial, the vac-cine with adjuvant raised antibodylevels to ranges that may be able toprotect people against infection.Researchers are also makingprogress using animals to test newstrategies. In a study done under anagreement between NIAID’s Labora-tory of Infectious Diseases and Med-Immune Inc., researchers showedthat a vaccine based on one strain of H5N1 could protect mice and ferretsfrom infection by several naturally oc-curring H5N1 viruses. That’s promis-ing news for researchers hoping todevelop a vaccine against unforeseenH5N1 strains. A preliminary trial waslaunched last June to start testing asimilar vaccine in humans.Other ways to combat flu virusesare being explored, too. Research-ers are testing many compoundsdesigned to slow the spread of avianflu viruses within the body once aperson’s been infected.A better understanding of a virusthat caused a past pandemic hasrecently given researchers ideasabout another possible way to fightflu. A study of mice infected by thevirus that caused the 1918 pandemicshowed that the virus provokedtheir immune systems to overreact. That may be why the virus was sofatal to humans. So, in addition todeveloping methods to target theviruses themselves, researchersmay be able to develop ways todampen the human immune system’sresponse to an infection.Researchers continue to work on these and other approaches tofighting influenza. Experts don’tknow when or where a deadly newflu might emerge, but they hopethe tools being developed now willprevent another pandemic and helpus fight one if it does occur.
■■
Get a yearly flu vaccine if yourdoctor recommends it. Butkeep in mind that the vaccinescurrently available don’t protectyou from bird (avian) flu.
■
Stay home when you’re sick and avoid contact with otherswho appear to be sick.
Wise Choices
Avoid the Flu
■
Wash your hands before eatingand before touching your eyes,nose or mouth.
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If you travel anywhere that birdflu has been found, use cautionwhen handling and cookingpoultry, as it may be infected. If you interact with any birds whilein these countries, wash yourhands and clean the bottom of your shoes or any other itemsthat may have been in contactwith birds or bird droppings.
 
Most people know that drug abuseis linked to AIDS. Less understood iswhy they’re linked. The “high” thatpeople get from drugs may alter their judgment and lead them to take risksthey normally would not take—in-cluding having unprotected sex.HIV, or human immunodeficiencyvirus, attacks the body’s disease-fighting (immune) system. If the virusoverwhelms the immune system, youcan no longer fight off disease. Whenthis happens, it’s called acquired im-mune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS. The only sure way to prevent AIDS isto avoid becoming infected with HIV.A large body of drug abuse re-search shows that drugs of abuse,including marijuana, cocaine, meth-amphetamine and “ecstasy,” affect ar-eas of the brain that control decision-making. Engaging in risky behaviorputs young people in real danger of becoming infected with HIV.
December 2006
3
Learn the AIDS Link
Drugs Can Give You More Than a High
“In recent years, the num-ber of young people in theU.S. diagnosed with AIDSrose substantially,” said Dr.Nora Volkow, director of NIH’sNational Institute on DrugAbuse (NIDA). “And be-cause drug use encour-ages risky behaviorsthat can promote HIVtransmission, NIDAviews drug abusetreatment as essen-tial HIV prevention.” Thousands of teenagers nowhave AIDS, accord-ing to the Centersfor Disease Controland Prevention.And while in ear-lier years, most re-ported adolescent AIDS caseswere in males, the number of female
hiv.drugabuse.gov, or 1-800-729-6686www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/hivinf.htm
NIH News in Health
AIDS cases is now nearly equal withmales. Among women diagnosedin 2004, roughly 7 out of 10 got thedisease from having sex with infectedmale partners.Minority populations are alsoat risk for drug abuse and HIV. Forexample, black and Hispanic womenmade up only 25% of all U.S. womenin 2004, yet they accounted foraround 80% of AIDS cases diagnosedin women that year. In fact, AfricanAmericans, who make up just 13%of the population, accounted forapproximately half of the total AIDScases diagnosed in 2004. That’s why NIDA, together withits partners, is working to get teens,women and young adults to under-stand the link between drug abuseand HIV/AIDS. Learn the link and,if you have teenagers, talk to themabout the link.Seeking medical treatment as soonas possible after becoming infectedwith HIV is critical. If you think youmay be at risk for HIV, through druguse or sexual behavior, get tested forthe virus.
■■
Don’t share needles, syringes orother equipment used to injectdrugs, steroids, vitamins or fortattooing or body piercing.
■
Abstain from sexual intercourseor stay in a long-term relation-ship with a partner who hasbeen tested and you know isnot infected. The more sexpartners you have, the greateryour chances are of gettingHIV or other diseases passedthrough sex.
■
Correct and consistent use of the male latex condom can
Wise Choices
Protect YourselfFrom HIV
reduce the risk of disease trans-mission through sex. However, noprotective method is 100% effec-tive. Condom use cannot guar-antee protection against sexuallytransmitted disease.
■
Don’t share razors or toothbrushesbecause of the possibility of con-tact with blood.
■
If you are pregnant or think youmight be soon, talk to a doctoror your local health departmentabout being tested for HIV. If you have the virus, drug treat-ments are available to help youreduce the chance of passing HIV to your baby.
—Adapted from material from the U.S.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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