Influenza disease: a review on epidemiological studies, pathogenesis and genetically alteration upon the avian influenza viruses circulating in Iran, on the field of veterinary medicine and medicine in two recent decades

In two recent decades, two sever outbreak of influenza disease have been occurred in Iran. During first epidemic that was, suddenly, happened in summer 1998, subtype H9N2 Avian influenza virus infection rapidly distributed in chicken breeding farms. The infections caused sever mortality and reduction of egg production as well as huge economic losses. In the second epidemic of influenza, that was occurred following pandemic of pig subtype of H1N1influenza virus, considerable number of people became infected and sick, over the country, which was terminated to death of some of patients and consumption of huge cost due hospitalization and treatment. Although, these epidemics could be considered in different aspects as a disaster, however, they have had some benefits such as: to be activation of different research centers, all over the country, in the field of epidemiological studies, pathogenesis and the genetic alteration of influenza viruses; identifying circulating influenza viruses; studies on the role of wild migratory birds in occurrence of influenza epidemics; Identifying ways to control , treatment and surveillance of the disease; establishment of reference avian influenza virus laboratory in Razi institute.The current article is a review on the literatures of researches on influenza disease, in Iran, in the field of veterinary medicine and medicine in recent two decades. In this way, the author has tried to perform more discussion on some important dark points of influenza disease.