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 [...]
General Information on Bird Flu
Bird flu is a disease caused by type “A” influenza viruses. 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 or turkey, which get ill and die. Birds get infected if they get in contact with secretions or excretions of the affected birds, with contaminated water or food and even with contaminated surfaces (dirt and cages). The avian influenza viruses can cause a mild form of the disease that does not kill the infected birds, and it only reduces the egg production, and a highly virulent form that can lead to death within 48 hours by multiple internal organ lesions. Type A of influenza virus has many different subtypes due to changes in some proteins situated on the surface of the A virus. These changeable proteins are Hemagglutinin (HA) and Neuraminidase (NA). There exist 16 known HA subtypes and 9 NA subtypes of “A” virus, but there are possible many combinations between HA and NA proteins, leading to new subtypes. All these subtypes can now be found in birds. Until 1997 nobody knew that the virus can affect [...]
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 [...]