Answers About Bird Flu
We often hear about bird flu from the media. We know that it is a virus that usually affects birds. This virus is a complex one that it does not affect only birds but humans too. Asian countries are the most common areas where bird flu might develop. Also called avian influenza, bird flu is known to develop 15 subtypes of viruses. The most dangerous virus that proved to be a threat for both birds and humans is H5N1. The virus occurs in most of the cases among birds. Wild birds carry the virus in their intestines but usually do not get sick from it. At risk are the domesticated birds such as chickens, ducks or turkeys. After catching the virus these birds are, in most of the cases, going to die. There are known two forms of influenza viruses that are distinguished by low and high extremes of virulence. The low pathogenic form may go undetected and may cause mild symptoms but the highly pathogenic form spreads more rapidly and affects the internal organs of the birds. In more than 90 % of the cases the highly pathogenic form leads to death in less than 48 [...]
Discover All The Secrets About Avian Bird Flu
Avian bird flu is a contagious disease that affects mainly birds. It is a strand of disease that comes from the influenza virus which is very species-specific. That means it usually only affects the species that coincides with the particular strand. The main concern with it is its ability to contaminate huge flocks of poultry. Domestic birds don’t usually become infected unless they are in contact with native birds in the area. Most native birds have an immunity to bird flu but they still carry it in their blood. Domestic birds however, are usually not immune to avian bird flu and when they are in contact with a carrying bird, they can easily become infected. What About The Current Outbreaks In Poultry? In 2003 South East Asia saw one of the largest outbreaks of avian bird flu in history. Over 150 million birds were destroyed. Since that time the disease is now considered an endemic in countries such as Cambodia, China and Thailand. It is thought that the disease is still showing up in these countries today and may take several more years before the disease is fully under control. What Affect Does it Have On Human Health? There are [...]
Some Useful Information About Bird Flu
At first, bird flu appeared in Asia, where million of poultry was slaughtered in the attempt of stopping the virus from transmitting to other animals and humans. Scientists believe that if H5N1 virus merges with a human flu virus, the new improved virus could transmit from human to human, leading to a global pandemic. Wild birds are a natural reservoir of type A of flu virus, but they are not affected by it. They can infect domestic birds such as chicken and turkey that will get ill and then die. There are many forms of avian flu viruses, some cause mild symptoms to the birds, but other forms are highly pathogenic and can lead to the extinction of the bird. This virulent form is responsible for what happened in Asia. Until 1997, nobody knew that the virus can affect humans, but it has happened to those who have been in close contact with infected birds. Now, scientists are concerned about a possible mutation of the virus, making it more lethal and transmittable from human to human. This could lead to a global pandemic very much alike with the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-1919, when 40-50 million [...]
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 [...]
Concerns About Bird Flu
Asia is one of the most affected areas when it comes to the influenza A H5N1, or bird flu. Countries like China, Korea, India or Vietnam had to face the bird flu pandemics. In the year when all Asia was thinking about the tsunami that swept across the Indian Ocean another disaster occurred. Two children died in Vietnam because of the virus causing bird flu. This problem occurred in 2005 could lead to even more damage than the disastrous tsunami so a special attention was given to it. We can also mention the flu pandemic in 1918 that killed more than 20 million people all over the world. Remembering about it the specialists began to worry about another pandemic. The occurrence in humans of this type of virus that is mostly common among birds gave the specialists a sign that viruses are beginning to change or even mutating. This meant a threat for the whole population. H5N1 is a virus that usually affects birds. It occurs is wild birds that are not affected. These birds spread the virus among the domestic birds which are in danger. The virus affects their internal organs and may lead to death [...]
All The Secrets You Need To Know About The Asian Bird Flu!
There is a deadly disease that has and still is sweeping nations across South East Asia. It’s now beginning to be known as the Asian bird flu. So what is it and how does it affect people? Well the Asian bird flu is a virus that is spread by birds, hence the name bird flu. It’s a type of influenza virus that can spread like wildfire when given the opportunity. So you’re wondering how Asian bird flu is contracted by humans if it’s a strand of influenza that only affects birds? Well unfortunately, bird flu is like many other strands of influenza being that it has the potential to mutate into other strands when placed in the right environment. This of course has occurred many times and has resulted in catastrophic proportions on the human population. Recent Breakouts Of The Asian Bird Flu The most recent breakouts have occurred in South East Asia and more particularly Indonesia, where many people died in a very short period of time. Luckily modern medicine is far more adept at treating influenza viruses these days. If the same breakout had have happened back at the beginning of the 20th century many more people would [...]
The Basics About Bird Flu
Avian influenza is a natural infection in wild birds, which are actually carriers without ever being affected by the disease. Never the less, the avian flu can be passed to domestic poultry through various types of contact such as sharing the same food and water or coming in contact with excrements and cages of contaminated birds. A fairly easy way of determining whether poultry such as chicken, ducks, turkeys has bird flu is microscope examination of their saliva and nasal secretions. Bird flu caused by influenza A viruses does not have a spontaneous effect on humans. The possibility is rather low to many because we are not as susceptible to it as birds. Though rare, cases of human infection have been outlined by the press. The virus that spreads among humans is known as the human influenza virus and has three branches: H1N1, H1N2, H3N2. The viruses vary through the different types of proteins that form their genetic coat: Hemagglutinin and Neuraminidaze. Parts of the virus affecting humans have also been found in birds, but the main concern is that the virus is in permanent replication and may one day evolve into a more potent form. Furthermore, there [...]
Asking About Bird Flu
1. What virus is responsible for Bird flu? There are many subtypes of influenza “A” virus, which affect in a different way poultry, causing mild or serious diseases to birds. The most lethal subtype of influenza “A” virus is H5N1, also known to be very dangerous to humans. 2. Why do we call the virus H5N1? On the surface of the virus are some proteins called Hemagglutinin (HA) and Neuraminidase (NA). Hemagglutinin allows the virus to initiate the infecting process and Neuraminidase prevents the newly formed virus from exiting the host cell. There exist 16 known HA subtypes and 9 NA subtypes of influenza virus. The H5N1 virus has in its structure hemagglutinin type 5 and neuraminidase type 1. 3. Why must we worry about Bird flu? – H5N1 virus has caused by now millions of bird deaths, and hundreds of humans only in Asia; – If the virus mutates it will spread from human to human, causing a global pandemic; – Chicken industry will be seriously affected. 4. How can H5N1 virus infect humans? Getting in close contact with an infected bird can lead to human contamination. People that take care, [...]
Most Common Questions About Bird Flu
The bird Influenza virus is a contagious condition to which all species of birds are exposed. It varies from milder forms to a very severe stage that usually leads to death. Some bird species are more resistant to the virus than others but the real danger of the Bird flu is the possibility of transmission to humans. The disease is caused by more subtypes of the Influenza virus A; the different subgroups can undergo mutations and create high pathological forms of the condition. The most dangerous bird flu for man is the one caused by the virus H5N1. The disease is transmitted in birds by infected discharges like feces or respiratory secretions, by contaminated food, water, cages, clothing or vehicles, by infected eggs in the incubatory and from clinically normal birds that will spread the virus inside the flock. The virus usually persists in survived bird tissues for about 10 days and can be transmitted by feces and oral discharge. The most infectious forms last longer time in tissues, water and cold environments. Domestic birds will get the disease if in contact with wild birds; if they use infected water bowls or share them with infected wild [...]
What to Do About the Flu
You had the flu last winter and the winter before that. If there’s one thing you know for sure it’s this: you don’t want to get it again this year. The bone-racking aches and pains, the chills, fever, coughs, and fatigue laid you out flat. And when the flu hits your household, it knocks everyone down – kids and adults alike – for at least a week, sometimes two. If you can’t afford to lose time to the flu, or if someone in your family has a medical condition that could be complicated by getting influenza, there are flu treatments you can take to reduce your chances of getting sick. And reduce your chances of passing the flu on to the rest of your family and your coworkers. The Flu Bug Is Many Bugs The flu is actually a number of viruses that infect the respiratory tract. Two main types of flu cause the outbreaks we experience every fall/winter: Influenza A and Influenza B. This is important to note because some drugs only target Influenza A. Others target both A and B. Once your doctor has diagnosed you and determined the kind of flu that’s doing [...]