The Good News And Bad News Of Avian Flu
Well, it’s flu season again. Only this time, we hear everyone talking about avian flu…the Super flu which is expected to wreck havoc across our land in the not so distant months. So what is avian flu? Avian flu is bird flu. Yes, you read that right, “Avian flu is bird flu.” And why might that be such bad news? If you pursue the news much, you will read that the deadliest disease in history is widely regarded as the Spanish Flu epidemic which killed 40 million people in just months. Scientists now believe the epidemic was an avian flu pandemic. In other words, the virus came from birds – it is believed – and a virus similar to this one -called the “H5N1″ (a form of avian flu virus). Its origins? Most scientists agree it originated in Asia, as this one. Flu comes every season. It comes in one of two forms, Type A or Type B influenza. Type A is the more potent of these kinds of flu, and avian flu is Type A. These strains kill. The current avian flu bug is infecting and spreading throughout the poultry industry in Asia. Why so often in Asia? Simply [...]
General Information Regarding Avian Influenza (bird Flu)
The World Health Organization (WHO) makes reports and updates regarding new human cases of infection with bird flu. The only subtype that can cause severe illness to people is Influenza A /H5N1 virus, initially it affects chickens, ducks and other birds by the process of mutation they can become highly pathogenic. Because highly pathogenic viruses can survive for long periods in tissue, water and in the environment, especially when temperatures are low is transmitted very easily in chickens and other birds through direct contact with feces and secretions from infected birds, eggs, feed, water, cages equipment, vehicles and clothing. Public health authorities monitor human illnesses associated with avian influenza. In Hong-Kong occured for the first time infection both in humans and poultry and were killed about 1.5 million chickens. In China and Hong-Kong avian influenza A (H9N2) virus infection affected two children who recovered. The source was unknown, but suspected the poultry. In Virginia, 2002 an outbreak of H7N2 among poultry was descovered but,with no human victims. Canada, 2004: human infections among poultry workers with H7N3. Thailand and Vietnam human infections with H5N1. Azerbaijan, Cambodia, China, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Thailand, Turkey, 2006: Human infections with H5N1 [...]
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 [...]
H5n1 Warning: Your Safeguard to the Avian Flu Isn
When I started to write about health in my monthly newsletter back in 2000 my goal was to teach everybody what I just learned myself. You can?t find trustworthy health information in the media or not even with your doctor. I?m talking about health information and not about sickness and medication. I?m talking about how to stay well or even getting well again without medication. If I see how many people are getting sick, there is a great gap in the information source about: How to stay well! After years and years of reading books, Internet sites and visiting lectures its clear to me that Western health systems are more a money making machine then a healthcare system. It never crossed my mind to write about politics in my now weekly newsletter (Dutch language). But, the news that I believe is a serious threat to so many peoples health that, it has to be told. To make thing simple one and one is, ?. two. It will always be, so this is what you need to know. If only 243 people, world wide, died from the Bird Flu, then why are Governments spending Billions of dollars and Euros on vaccine [...]
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
Avian Influenza (bird Flu) Particular Concerns
Avian Influenza first occurred in Italy, but nowdays is spread along the world. It is an infectious disease caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. All birds are supposed to be susceptible to the avian influenza, but particularly domestic poultry. Recombined with the human influenza viruses form a totally new influenza virus to which people do not have protection that spreads in the population and that causes serious illness and death in humans. Bird Flu is an infectious disease of birds that can also affect people. It can present mild or severe forms of illness. The only subtype that can cause severe illness to people is Influenza A /H5N1 virus, initially it affects chickens, ducks and other birds by the process of mutation they can become highly pathogenic. If the bird flu virus recombines with a human flu virus and mutate it may become possible the transmission from human to human as happened in Asia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia Thailand, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Eygpt, China, and Iraq where people died. Bird flu affected Australia in 1997 but, was eradicated. Water birds are supposed to carry the avian influenza type A virus inside their intestines and to distribute [...]
Avian Influenza Prevention and Treatments
Avian influenza affects chickens and the poultry industry, recombined with the human influenza viruses form a totally new influenza virus to which people do not have protection that spreads in the population and that causes serious illness and death in humans. Bird Flu is an infectious disease of birds that can also affect people. It can present mild or severe forms of illness. The only subtype that can cause severe illness to people is Influenza A /H5N1 virus, initially it affects chickens, ducks and other birds by the process of mutation they can become highly pathogenic. If the bird flu virus recombines with a human flu virus and mutate it may become possible the transmission from human to human as happened in Asia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia Thailand, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Eygpt, China, and Iraq where people died. Bird flu affected Australia in 1997 but, was eradicated. Water birds are supposed to carry the avian influenza type A virus inside their intestines and to distribute it in the environment through bird faeces. Infection determines many symptoms in wild and domesticated birds from mild illnesses to highly contagious and severe epidemics. Among them a decline in activity and in egg production, [...]
Information on Avian Flu
Avian flu is caused due to the H5N1 virus which is transmitted from the saliva, fecal matter of the birds. The disease is highly contagious and causes death of birds and poultry population. The virus is lethal and assumes the proportion of pandemic, which can wipe out the entire population of birds and poultry. The virus also spreads to the human beings if they are in contact with the sick bird or poultry. Human beings are also afflicted by the virus which can even be life threatening. Influenza, commonly called “the flu,” is an illness caused by viruses that infect the respiratory tract. Compared with most other viral respiratory infections, such as the common cold, influenza (flu) infection often causes a more severe illness with a mortality rate (death rate) of about 0.1% of people who are infected with the virus. Unusually severe worldwide outbreaks (pandemics) have occurred several times in the last 100 years since influenza virus was identified in 1933. 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. [...]
What is Avian Flu and Causes of Avian Flu
The avian flu that has affected birds and people in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, is different from the flu that many people get during the cold-weather months. Poultry — like chickens and turkeys — tend to get infected with the bird flu by migrating waterfowl (like ducks, geese, and swans), and spread it to other birds through their infected feces, saliva, or secretions. Avian influenza is flu infection in birds. The disease is of concern to humans, who have no immunity against it. The virus that causes this infection in birds can mutate (change) to easily infect humans. Such mutation can start a deadly worldwide epidemic. Avian Flu Causes The ABCs of influenza viruses Influenza viruses are divided into three types (strains) of viruses — influenza A, B and C. Type A is responsible for the deadly influenza pandemics. Type B can lead to smaller, more localized outbreaks. Less common and more stable than other strains, type C has milder symptoms. Either types A or B can cause the flu that circulates almost every winter. Farmers and other people working with poultry, as well as travelers visiting affected countries, have a higher risk for getting the bird [...]
Understanding The Avian Bird Flu Virus And A Look Into Its History
Avian bird flu, a viral disease, also termed as bird flu, avian influenza, type A flu or genus. This flu is a kind of influenza hosted by birds but can affect other animals and particularly humans also. The virus in general is the influenza virus ‘A’ but is a bit different every time the flu breaks out, because of the evolutionary changes it keeps undergoing. New viruses keep getting formed because of genetic mutation and are named using a H number and an N number, which denote different pathogenic profiles. Some of those ones which for sure affect human populace and did so in the past are, H1N1 (Spanish flu, 1918-19) H2N2 (Asian flu, 1957-58), H3N2 (Hong Kong flu, 1968-69), etc. Some of those identified are extinct now because of the constant mutations taking place in the structure of the virus which self destructs its capabilities to infect humans anymore. Also new viruses have come up and currently the major pandemic (epidemic over a wide geographical area) threat is from H5N1 virus. It was first discovered in Italy in 1878 and was even called fowl plague because of the enormity of its effect in chicken livestock. It was however only [...]