Zoonotic Illnesses and Pandemics: The Threat of Influenza Evolution

Delving into the dangers of zoonotic illnesses, this chapter focuses on the 2009 swine flu outbreak, highlighting how a virus combination from pigs and humans led to a transmissible strain. It discusses the risks of evolving viruses, differentiating flu strains in terms of transmissibility and immune evasion, and underlines the importance of isolating infected cattle herds to prevent a mutated bird flu wave.