Avian Influenza is one of the most important zoonotic diseases which are a major concern for public health. Avian Influenza Virus (AIV) is a potential source for the emer¬gence of human influenza pandemics (Fouchier et al., 2005; Olsen et al., 2006; Webster et al., 1992). The outbreaks of Avian Influenzas are usually associated with various factors e.g. do not wash hands after handling sick poultry and mortality, do not use of PPE’s (personal protective equipment), no dipping area, eating and drinking during working with poultry, confinement of birds, mode of disposal of infected birds, carcasses and poultry fecal matter; dry seasons in the dry zones just before the rains; wind conditions; short intermittent temperature changes and the restocking of farms with chickens from the markets.
Hypothesis:
Avian Influenza A, H9 virus was prevalent and potential risk factors are associated with AIV disease.
Parameter/Methodology:
A cross sectional survey in poultry farm workers of district Lahore and Kasur would be conducted in order to determine seroprevalence of Avian Influenza. A study population was the apparently healthy poultry farm workers/handlers of District Lahore and Kasur of Province Punjab. Stage one cluster sampling technique was adopted and with the help of formula and 525 blood samples of poultry workers were taken from 38 selected clusters.
Blood sample from apparently healthy poultry workers were collected from brachial veins. Blood (4-5ml) was collected in vacutainers and allowed to clot for separation of serum. Collected sera were stored in freezer at -70°C for further laboratory analysis.
Haemagglutination assay (HA) and Haemagglutination Inhibition (HI) test was applied on samples as per protocol of world health organization (WHO, 2013).
I had to work on H5, H7 and H9 strains according to my topic but due to the non-availability of H5 and H7 live viruses I could not perform lab analysis. So, I worked only on H9 strain of AIV.
Statistical Design:
The proportion estimate with 95% Cl (Confidence Intervals) of the overall seroprevalence would compute by using “R” software. Descriptive analysis was conducted by using SPSS (version 20). Logistic regression (univariable and multivariable) was conduct to estimate the effect of each study variable on the outcome (Hosmer and Lemeshow 2000).
Outcomes:
The current study had provided useful estimates of risk factors related to AIV. The finding of above study will be published. These findings could be utilized by the policy maker to control the epidemics of AIV in population.