Comparison Article

Taylor Ferguson

Biology 1610

April 11, 2020

 Comparison:

Topic: In the research article that I found, “Avian Influenza A Virus

(H7N7) Epidemic in the Netherlands in 2003: Course of the Epidemic

and effectiveness of Control Measures” the authors of the article

discuss the in-depth look at the influenza A Virus (H7N7) and its

pathological breakdown of how it was transmitted. The research

discussed the ways the study was tested originally in the Netherlands

and how it turned into an epidemic. In the popular article about the

influenza pandemic it discusses the public access to what the

pandemic may bring and how to prepare for it. These two articles

speak to the same topic but do not focus on the same area of the

topic. One shows data of how the virus works and how it is tested, and

the other shows how to monitor it in public and how to stay safe.

Accessibility: Between the two articles that I read; it was harder

for me to find the research article. It is not easy to find a credible

research article. I had to access many different pages to get to the

right place. I had to go through the school’s library page and that isn’t
always easy to navigate. For a popular opinion article, using a normal

search engine it is was very simple to find a topic and article

discussing the topic.

Readability: When I read through both articles, I had an easier

time reading the popular opinion article. It was a lot shorter; it

discussed the topic in similar terms and gave me something that I can

use or relate to. In the research paper, it discussed a lot of data that

was not easy to read, it was very specific to a certain study and

someone that is not a part of the study may not understand.

Opinion: Reading both of these articles made me realize that

severity of the epidemic if it were to spread to humans as rapidly as it

did to the birds. In today’s society with COVID going on, this article

made me grateful that it is being taking seriously and is helping our

society to prepare in both a large and small scale for any possible

future epidemic.

Summary:

Purpose: In the research article, the purpose was to give a

concise overview of the course of the Dutch H7N7 epidemic and to

quantify the effectiveness of the control measures that were

implemented. The hypothesis restates the research question of

whether Avian Influenza Viruses have played a role in the start of

human influenza pandemics.

Testing: The summary of the research article discusses how the

birds were tested. The control measures markedly reduced the

transmission of the virus: Rh before detection of the outbreak.

Results/conclusions: In the research summary, it gave details

about how the virus can be reduced. It discusses how if the

susceptible flocks become completely depopulated in one specific

area instead of any other control measures of transmission.

Citations:

Arjan, Bouma, Annemarie, Armin R. W., de J., Gonnie, Klerk, de, … Michiel. (2004, December

15). Avian Influenza A Virus (H7N7) Epidemic in The Netherlands in 2003: Course of the

Epidemic and Effectiveness of Control Measures. Retrieved from

https://academic.oup.com/jid/article/190/12/2088/862959
Webby, R. J., & Webster, R. G. (2003, November 28). Are We Ready for Pandemic Influenza?

Retrieved from https://science.sciencemag.org/content/302/5650/1519