General Discussion About Bird Flu
It is well known that Asian countries are affected by avian (bird) flu. The highly contagious virus spreads rapidly among the poultry leading to a quick death. More than that, it was noticed that the virus might affect humans too. Specialists are concerned about the spreading of the virus among the people. Their theory says that the bird flu virus could merge with a human flu virus and can lead to highly infectious, rapidly fatal flu virus. For this reason most of the Asian countries are culling the poultry stocks to prevent a further spread of the virus. Avian flu is a health problem that mostly affects the birds. It is used to describe the influenza viruses. Nowadays 15 subtypes of influenza A viruses are known to possibly spread among the bird populations. From all these types of avian flu only a few may lead to a highly contagious and rapidly fatal disease. These dangerous viruses are known as highly pathogenic avian influenza. These viruses are responsible for the worries of the specialists because it is believed that they are the ones that may affect humans. In the moment when it was certitude that avian [...]
Nine swine flu deaths reported in June
Aussies believe jab delivers flu Having a flu jab won’t give you the flu, but that does not stop one in five Australians believing this is the case. Read more on Sky News Australia Nine swine flu deaths reported in June Nine swine flu deaths reported in JuneNine swine flu deaths reported in June Read more on The Economic Times
Third of NZers immune to swine flu
Swine flu returning; Greenwich scheduling vaccine clinics A second wave of swine flu is starting to hit the state, though the virus hasn’t become widespread yet, health officials said. As of Oct. 27, there were 98 laboratory-confirmed cases of H1N1 in Connecticut, with none in Greenwich, and three confirmed deaths connected to the flu strain, according to the state Department of Public Health . But, since only people who are hospitalized, along with … Read more on The Norwalk Citizen Third of NZers immune to swine flu Almost a third of New Zealanders are now immune to swine flu, according to the Ministry of Health. Read more on Newstalk ZB via Yahoo!Xtra News
How to Treat Bird Flu
Bird flu is an infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. These flu viruses occur naturally among birds. Wild birds worldwide carry the viruses in their intestines, but usually do not get sick from them. However, bird flu is very contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill them. Bird flu, or avian flu, is currently of great concern worldwide. Governments are greatly concerned of a pandemic of bird flu that could kill millions. Tamiflu is the main drug for the treatment of bird flu. Tamiflu can lessen the effects of bird flu, speed up recovery. Tamiflu can also minimize the effects of bird flu to the point that a patient may survive the virus when, without Tamiflu, the attack would have been fatal. Tamiflu is the only drug that is this effective against the bird flu virus. These drugs must be taken within two days after the appearance of symptoms, something that may prove logistically difficult on a worldwide scale, even if there were enough to go around. Because they’re in short supply, it’s not entirely clear how flu drugs would be allocated if there were [...]
Some flu may not die, only hide
UB researchers may have found new way to treat flu Researchers at the University at Buffalo and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say they have potentially found an alternative way to defeat the flu and other viruses without using vaccines. Read more on The Buffalo News Some flu may not die, only hide ANN ARBOR, Mich., May 31 (UPI) — Some strains of influenza do not die at the end of winter, but move to South America, while some migrate further, U.S. genetic detectives said. Read more on UPI
Swine flu jag gives ‘good protection’
Flu bug forces Paterno to cancel appearance again (AP) — HERSHEY, Pa. – Penn State coach Joe Paterno bowed out a few hours before a scheduled appearance Thursday night at a university alumni event because of a lingering flu bug. Read more on The Patriot-News Swine flu jag gives ‘good protection’ SWINE flu vaccines given to children during last year’s pandemic have mostly minor side-effects and should provide “good protection” against infection, researchers Read more on The Scotsman
H1N1 Flu Cases Still Being Seen at WCU
Swine flu ruled out in Teton County death JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) Swine flu has been ruled out in the March death of a Teton County woman. When 63-year-old Artemia Ramos Garcia died in March, local health officials said it could have been caused by the H1N1 swine flu. Read more on KTVQ Billings H1N1 Flu Cases Still Being Seen at WCU Two weeks after classes began at Western Carolina University, cases of the flu are still spreading rapidly across campus. Read more on Western Carolinian
Cold and Flu – Protection, Prevention and Treatment
Cold and flu are the most commonly occurring illnesses in the entire world, with more than 1 billion colds per year reported in the United States alone. The common cold is a self-limit ed illness caused by any 1 of more than 200 viruses. You usually do not need to call your doctor if you catch a cold. For more severe symptoms or a prolonged duration of symptoms, you should visit your doctor. An office visit will usually be fine. I. How to protect yourself from cold and flu 1. Stop stress – Pushing yourself too hard depresses the immune system. When your defenses are down, you are vulnerable to a cold or flu virus. 2. Healthy diet – A healthy diet is important to keep your immune system strong. Avoid junk food and consume more fruits, vegetables and plenty of non-caffeinated liquids. 3. Taking vitamin C daily – During cold season, taking extra vitamin C helps to strengthen your defenses against cold viruses. This helps to reduce the severity of cold symptoms. Be sure to wash your hand after using any office equipment, especially when one of your co-workers have colds. II. If you have a cold 1. Drink [...]
In Brief: Avian flu outbreak prompts West Bank chicken cull
H1N1 to Be Included in Seasonal Flu Vaccine The H1N1 virus will be included in the 2010/2011 seasonal flu vaccine. Rambo Memorial Health Center already placed its order for next year’s vaccine back in November. It includes three strains of flu that the health community feels will impact the public most next flu season. Read more on WHIZ News Zanesville In Brief: Avian flu outbreak prompts West Bank chicken cull Source: IRIN Animal cases of avian flu in Bala village in the Tul Karem area of the West Bank, northeast of Tel Aviv, have been confirmed, and some 250,000 chickens culled, according to officials. Read more on AlertNet
What Are the Symptoms of Bird Flu
How can you know whether your or a loved one has bird flu or just a case of ordinary flu? That’s not a simple question to answer. Frankly, the only 100% way is to have body secretions tested by a World Health Organization (WHO) laboratory such as the U.S. Center for Disease Control in Atlanta Georgia. There are also such laboratories in Melbourne Australia and London England. Obviously, they are not available to just any and every household and clinic with a flu patient. Right now there’re probably overwhelmed with testing new and suspected cases in Southeast Asia, Europe and Africa. If you have good reason to believe that you have been exposed to bird flu, then you should go right away to a clinic or hospital to be tested and get the care you’ll need if your case becomes severe. You have good reason to believe you have been exposed to bird flu if you live in or have travelled recently in SouthEast/South Asia, the Mid-East, Europe or Africa. Especially if you work with or around chickens or you have been around chickens. That is, to a chicken market or to a cock fight (where chicken blood and other [...]