How Far The Medicines For Bird Flu Will Protect You?

The modern medicine has advanced to unimaginable heights during the last five decades. You have lots of confidence to tackle any situation. You have hundreds of hospitals. Fresh doctors and specialists roll out every year from colleges and universities with their newly acquired medical knowledge. The 1918-19 influenza that killed millions all over the world is only a memory now.

Though, governments all over the world shook to the foundation! For some time, they did not know what to do, except culling the poor birds to save humanity. Even today the awe and fear caused by the epidemic in the past exist.

There are only four types of medicines for bird-flu, out of which two have proved ineffective. As regards the remaining two, not much reliance can be placed on them. For, the bird-flu virus changes its type and pattern so fast.

Moreover, the affected individual needs to be given the doses of medicine within 48 hours of the onset of the symptoms. The manufacturing process of the vaccine takes not less than 40 days and by the time you can well imagine the magnitude of the damage done by this disease. Handling a few cases of bird flu is one thing. Handling it, when it is pandemic is another matter!

You have seen lots of progress with regard to antibiotic medicines, but bird flu beats them all. Antibiotics are for bacterial infections; they are ineffective against viral infections. Understand this statement in the proper perspective, there is no known treatment for the bird-flu as on date and the scientists are just groping in the dark.

The bird-flu virus does serious damage to the lungs within a short time of its onset. When all the treatments fail, the only hope for the patient lie in putting him on the ventilator, which means you need a mechanical respirator for each patient and some special space! You need exclusive staff to look after the patient.

These machines are expensive and the supply is limited. If the bird-flu strikes on a massive scale, all concerned will be the dumb spectators and watch people die helplessly.

Coming to the practical part of handling the situation, from where do you get all those supplies needed to handle the rush of bird-flu affected patients- N 95 face masks, gowns, goggles, head caps and shoe covers? What if the manufacturer's staff were to be attacked by bird flu? When the whole system collapses, when the confidence of all concerned is at the low ebb for nothing much can be done to control this virus!

When the Ultimate Protector condemns you for the reasons best known to Him, who can protect you?

To get more information on bird flu, bird flu and bird flu vaccine visit http://www.isitbirdflu.com/.

Bird Flu Impact

With autumn very likely to represent another opportunity for the bird flu virus to find new hosts in new territories, as a consequence of the movement of large flocks of migratory birds across great distances, some experts warn the flu pandemic that is so feared and predicted for some while now could be just around the corner. But how severe could such an outcome be? Estimates range from thousands to millions of victims. In any case, it might not be a disease to end civilization as we know it, but it is quite likely to cause important social disturbances. So how does this disease influence current world affairs and how will it take its toll on our lives in an unfortunate future?

Current effects of the much talked about virus are obvious in areas where the virus has been detected in birds or even humans. Asian countries in particular have been facing the disease for a few years now. Most have at least some prevention measures implemented and there are programs to monitor and test birds populations for the virus. Some have chosen to vaccinate poultry with anti viral drugs and where there is an outbreak, rapid culling of all the birds in the area is standard procedure. In countries relying heavily on poultry consumption, the culling of millions of birds has forced the population to choose other products as a substitute.

Poultry farm owners and all other types of companies involved in the process of raising, processing and distributing poultry products have suffered great losses and are likely to go to great lengths to merely keep their businesses alive. The financial issue is manifested at a national level as well. Countries depending on their poultry exports are forced to see their products rejected from the international market, as many others ban such imports fearing a possible spread of the disease. Tourism is also affected. Although not as noticeably as the food industry, periodic changes into the travelers' preferences can be noticed. Previously favoured destinations in Asia now struggle to attract tourists, as many people are rightfully reluctant to visit regions where the bird flu virus has ravishing effects. Some governments have even warned their people and recommended those destinations to be avoided.

However, the greatest disruptions can be expected in the future, in the event of a local or world wide epidemic. With predictions of millions of people succumbing to the disease, it is easy to foresee all areas being affected. For businesses in particular, it would be interesting to consider the effects such a widespread health conditions could have. Some new reports estimate that up to half of the staff of any business could fall ill or be absent from work. Employers are being warned to take precautions and be prepared for such an event. Although terrorism is a more common concern for anyone today, a bird flu pandemic could cause even greater disruption. It is expected that employees will miss work either to care for others, or prevent an infection, or because they will have been infected themselves. It will therefore be difficult to find cover for the absent staff and the costs of any service is likely to rise considerably.

Furthermore, public transport could be disrupted itself and prevent staff getting to work. It is advisable to research the possibility of some of them working from home. This could prevent a further spread of the virus, while also offering a solution for those only suffering minor symptoms. Supply chains will also be impaired and stocks of different provisions should be taken into consideration. Travel will become very difficult and might not be recommended, as to avoid further spreads. The simplest way any employer can do to prepare for this is a plain information bulletin for their staff to keep them informed on the situation, or even considering all these factors and preparing suitable equipment for them to continue their work from home. It would be wrong to wait and see to what extent the virus will strike, as preparations at that time could prove too little too late

George Velicu is the senior editor at Bird flu center and the man responsible for making the website one of the most comprehensive sources for avian influenza information on the internet.He is also the one keeping a daily record of bird flu's developments

Bird Flu: The World Beware

Avian influenza virus or which is more commonly known as bird flu is a virus that stems from an infection from wild birds. These particular birds generally carry the virus but are somehow immune to the effects of it. Domesticated birds like ducks, chickens and turkeys however are not and herein lies the problem for humans.

The bird flu virus is passed on from chicken to chicken through their saliva and feces. This can happen when flocks of chicken or other domestic birds interact with the local native birds like wild ducks, turkeys etc. This can have a catastrophic effect on a flock of poultry and many farmers have had to terminate whole flocks resulting in huge losses for them overall.

So how does the bird flu virus get passed onto humans? Well usually the avian influenza virus is found chiefly in birds, however infections can also be found in humans. The risk however is very low for most people because the virus does not generally effect humans. However many cases have surfaced around the globe of people becoming infected by poultry such as in recent times.

Another concern is that the human strain of influenza originated from bird flu, therefore some scientists believe that there is a chance that one day the bird flu virus could transform into a strand that may be deadly to us humans. This could then cause a major outbreak around the world. After a recent breakout in Asia, people are becoming more and more wary about the fact that there is a possibility of a breakout occurring in their local area. This is unlikely to occur but it is important to remember that such events do happen and one of the best things to do now is to learn everything there is to know about bird flu and other strain of influenza

Many people believe this may happen sooner rather than later and are now getting ready for this to occur. There are many products being sold today to help protect people from becoming infected if an outbreak occurs. One way to reduce the likelihood of picking up a strain of influenza like bird flu would be to increase your body's immune system so that it becomes stronger and is able to fight off infection easier. This is a surefire way to keep you and your family safe from not only bird flu, but many other unwanted viruses.

Dane Stanton is the owner of ParrotTrainingReview.com which is an extensive review of the top parrot training courses on the internet. Find which course is best for you and your parrot! http://www.BirdFluReview.com

How Public Contact Employees Can Protect Themselves From Bird Flu

The best way to protect yourself from bird flu during a pandemic is to avoid all contact with other people.

However, this is impossible for people who must continue to report to a place of employment. Work will be especially dangerous if your job is to meet and deal with the public.

However, most people will want to continue to bring in a paycheck, so we'll be torn between the desire to ensure our safety by remaining home and the need to bring in money to pay the bills and buy whatever food may be available.

First of all, a lot of business that is currently done in person could be handled over the telephone. Employers should encourage customers to use the telephone or online services as much as possible. This will also protect the customer from possible exposure to bird flu.

But whether you are a cashier at a fast food restaurant, a cable TV installer or a welfare caseworker with clients who can't keep their telephone service on, you will still have to deal with some people face to face.

If allowed, wear a Nanomask at all times. Although many employers may object in the beginning of a bird flu pandemic, by the time millions are dying they should recognize that it should actually reassure customers that you are looking after their safety as well as your own. After all, after a customer with bird flu infects you, you could pass it on to the next customer in line.

If customers must do any writing or signing, leave pens out in their area. Do not give them yours. Do not touch the pens they have touched. If you must, wash your hands afterward.

Unfortunately, you may have to touch paperwork or, of course, their money. Cash money actually carries a lot of germs even now. We just rarely think about the hygiene implications of handling money given to us by other people. So if possible, employers should encourage customers to pay by credit or debit card. Employees don't need to handle the physical cards, just get the numbers and other necessary information from the customer.

Wear rubber or plastic gloves if you have to handle papers or cash handed to you by customers.

If possible, put a barrier of transparent plexiglass between you and the other person. This will help protect your from their germs if they cough or sneeze.

Fast food restaurants should encourage customers to use the drive-through facilities and discourage eating inside.

Keep a bottle of a germicidal hand lotion by your side and put some on your hands between each customer.

Give everyone coming into your business access to a bottle of germicidal hand lotion and encourage them to use it on their hands before touching anything.

Again, while many such measures would be perceived as offensive to customers during normal periods, a bird flu pandemic is not a normal period and they should understand that when everyone is in great danger from infection, every measure you take to protect yourself, also helps protect them as well.

Of course, during a bird flu pandemic the riskiest public contact job will be providing medical care to bird flu patients.

I can't give advice on that score, except to say please follow all rules and regulations to reduce your exposure to bird flu and to reduce the chances of you infecting other patients. And remember that barrier nursing and diligent hygienic procedures protect you as well as your patients.

Richard Stooker is the author of How to Protect Yourself and Your Family From Bird Flu and Bird Flu Blog

Are Dogs Safe From the Bird Flu?

Avian influenza, also known as bird flu or H5N1, is a viral disease that most commonly affects birds. It has appeared from time to time in regions around the world. It can spread easily among wild birds, but can also infect domestic birds including chickens, turkeys, ducks, and can also affect humans and other mammals. There is a rising concern that the H5N1 virus could cause a flu pandememic.

The CDC says that dogs are not usually susceptilbe to avian influenza viruses. However, the avian influenza A (H5N1) virus that emerged in Asia in 2003 has been documented to infect other carnivore species (e.g. cats, tigers, leopards, stone martens). This has raised concern that this strain of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus may be capable of infecting dogs. An unpublished report from 2005 by The National Institute of Animal Health in Bangkok indicated that dogs could be infected with the virus, but the associated disease was not detected. Researchers tested 629 village dogs and 111 cats in the Suphan Buri district of central Thailand. Out of these, 160 dogs and 8 cats had antibodies to H5N1, indicating that they were infected with the virus or had been infected in the past.

There were news reports of a stray dog dying from bird flu (H5N1)in Azerbaiijan in March. This was the first reported death of a dog from the virus. So far, this appears to be an isolated case. The World Health Organization(WHO) states on it's website that a better understanding of the situation in animals is, however, urgently needed.

So far, there is not enough information available about H5N1 in dogs to know how infection would occur. Most human cases have come from contact with infected poultry or feces. Affected cats in Europe appear to have become infected by eating infected poultry or wild birds. It is possible dogs could be infected the same way.

If H5N1 is found in your area, (at this time H5N1 has not been found in North America), it may be a good idea to keep your dog indoors unless restrained, to prevent contact with infected birds and their feces. If you have a hunting dog, you may want to reconsider using it for retrieving downed birds. Report to the local veterinary authority any evidence of significant bird mortality, both wild and domestic. If your dog shows breathing problems or nasal discharge, consult a veterinarian. Wash animal blankets with soap or any other commercial detergent.

An equine virus has recently shown up in dogs in the U.S. It is believed that the equine influenza virus mutated to produce the canine influenza virus. This may be a slighlty higher risk for dogs than avian influenza. This inter-species re-assortment is not uncommon for type A influenza viruses. It is unclear when this transition occurred.

Symptoms of canine influenza can be similar to kennel cough and include: a persistant, soft, moist cough, and a thick nasal discharge. More severe cases may include high fevers, pneumonia, and difficulty breathing, which can also be caused by a secondary bacterial infection.

If your dog exhibits any of these symtpoms, consult your veterinarian.

So far, there has been no indication of transmission from dog to human. There is no vaccine available at this time. Treatment is usually limited to IV fluids to help keep your dog hydrated or antibiotics to help control the infection.

For more information concerning the Canine Influenza, and Avian Influenza check out:

www.avma.org/

www.cdc.gov/

So, is your dog safe from the bird flu? No one seems to have a solid answer one way or another at this time. A little caution may be warranted, but the choice is yours: Would you rather your prized hunting dog stay home under the bed rather than risk catching the bird flu, or be out leading the hunt, doing what he loves? The best advise we have right now is always pay close attention to your dogs health. If your dog shows signs of ill health, consult your veterinarian. This will ensure you have a healthy, happy companion for years to come.

Andrew Saari contributes articles to several websites. For the latest on dog health visit http://www.quickdogtraining.com

Bird Flu, your Cat, and You.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, caused by the H5N1 virus,(commonly called bird flu) has been detected in cats and other felidae (e.g. leopards and tigers) from time to time since the start of the present poultry avian influenza epidemic in 2003.

In 2004 researchers showed that cats can be infected with H5N1 virus and that the virus could not only cause severe disease (and death) in cats, but also that cats could transmit the virus to other cats.

On present evidence however, it is highly unlikely that cats play any major role in the natural transmission of H5N1 viruses. In other words, although susceptible to the virus, they are "accidental" hosts.

However, because cats can be susceptible to the H5N1 virus, it does mean that there is the potential for domestic cats to contract the disease and then to pass it on to other cats, other species, and perhaps humans.

How might cats become infected with the H5N1 virus? There are 2 main scenarios.

a) Eat infected poultry meat - hence the association between infected cats and outbreaks of bird flu in poultry.

b)Many migratory waterfowl are carriers of the H5N1 virus. These are unlikely to come into close contact with cats, but they intermingle with other bird types that might well come into close contact with cats.

Cats are not the only mammals that can be infected with the H5N1 influenza virus. Tigers, Leopards, Civets, dogs and pigs are all recorded as having been infected and there is little reason to suggest that other mammals could not be infected by the virus.

While this information is slightly unsettling, it needs to be put in context. Mammals (including humans) need to be exposed to massive amounts of virus to become infected. This is supported by the fact that most human deaths from H5N1 have occurred where those people have had prolonged exposure to poultry circulating the H5N1 virus.

In addition, infected mammals shed very small amounts of virus, thus further reducing the potential for transmitting the virus from mammal to mammal (e.g. from cat to human).

A few other things worth mentioning.

1) The H5N1 virus is quickly killed at 70C. Thus normal cooking of chicken meat will kill the virus.

2) Commercial poultry routinely slaughtered at an approved slaughter plant does not represent a health hazard. This means that 99.9% of dressed poultry available in all first world economies (and many developing economies) is perfectly safe to eat. Not eating chicken "because of bird flu" is a nonsensical, uninformed reaction.

3) Not every cat that develops the sniffles now has bird flu! However, if you are in an area that has had an H5N1 outbreak in poultry, then a sick cat should ring some alarm bells. 4) Practice normal good hygiene - wash your hands with soap and water after handling animals or cleaning out litter trays etc.

So while cats can become infected with the bird flu virus, the chances of them transmitting it to other animals or humans at the moment is very slim indeed. Unfortunately, Influenza viruses are constantly changing through mechanisms known as antigenic shift and antigenic drift, which means that what is true today may change in six months time.

Watch this space!

Dr Keith Perrett is a Veterinarian who has spent more than 20yrs trying to get pet owners to do what is right for their pets. See www.pet-health-for-humans.com

Bird Flu Set To Wreak Havoc In The UK

The H5N1 bird flu virus has been confirmed in a dead swan found in a lake in Fife, Scotland. The dreaded deadly virus has finally arrived in the UK amongst fears that the entire poultry population could become infected and eventually spread the disease to humans.

Throughout Asia the virus has been responsible for the deaths of millions of poultry and to date more than a hundred humans have died from being in direct contact with infected birds. The virus is known to be able to spread from poultry to wild migratory birds such as swans, geese and ducks, most of which tend to visit Britain's shores during some time of the season between Spring and Autumn.

The UK is a favourite haunt for many migratory birds, which makes these islands particularly vulnerable to this kind of biological threat. But the real worry is whether the H5N1 virus could mutate to humans. And if this happens, the world could face a cataclysmic nightmare.

A short time ago Professor Neil Ferguson said, "What can we do if it hits our shores? We couldn't stop it. There would be a constant number of new cases and we would be overwhelmed very rapidly."

Scientists predict that should the virus mutate to humans, and is transmitted from person to person, there could be as many as 320,000 deaths in the UK. However, health experts say that a human transferable form of the H5N1 virus could kill between 100,000 and 150,000 people in the UK within just 2 months. And if left uncontrolled, could wipe out half the world's population.

Is the country panicking? The government hopes not because there's barely enough vaccine available to treat 20% of the population. What's even more worrying is the 'Tamiflu' vaccine that has been stockpiled in preparation, has yet to be proven to be effective against any form of bird flu.

In 1918-1919 a flu pandemic, commonly known as Spanish Flu, was responsible for the deaths of up to 50 million people worldwide. It was at first thought to be some kind of unknown respiratory disease, which caused the victim to drown in their own fluid and blood, but has since been recognised as an avian influenza infection known as H1N1. Does the H5N1 strain pose a serious threat? Yes it does, because it has been recognised as a particularly aggressive strain of the virus with the capability to easily mutate from bird to mammal. Should be worried? Yes we should. Despite what the politicians tell us, the H5N1 avian flu virus is a deadly killer, which can very easily mutate to other species and spread uncontrollably throughout the UK.

There is no cure for avian flu, and there would be no possibility of a cure for at least 4 months and maybe longer. It would only then be made available to a select few. Are you prepared?

It's very important that every family in the UK is at least aware of the possible dangers from an H5N1 infection and takes steps to prepare for the worst possible case scenario. Complacency is already evident among government officials, who are not only telling the nation there's no need to panic, reminiscent of the mad cow disease era, but insisting that the 'Fife swan' is an isolated incident.

The only advice is to learn more about this very real threat to the future of humanity, and find out how to protect yourself and your family. And most importantly how to survive should the worst happen.

Should the H5N1 virus spread throughout the UK, and somehow does mutate to a human to human transferable strain, and with no vaccine available for at least 4 months, what are you going to do?

Viv Williams is the author of Bird Flu Survival Guide. An in-depth look at the unseen menace from the biological threat of H5N1.

Contact: Viv Williams, Gold Channel. viv@goldchannel.co.uk Website: http://www.birdflusurvivalguide.co.uk

The Truth About Bird Flu Vaccines

What exactly do we have against the Bird Flu virus if it does materialize into a sudden threat? The governments of some countries have been claiming that they are stockpiling vaccines already. However how can that be possible when the vaccine we so dearly need is still under development.

The truth is that governments are sponsoring companies to help them create the appropriate vaccine faster. There is one company out there that has a vaccine, although it needs to be taken in large doses of two, a month apart. They are still trying to make ways to keep the dosages smaller.

If the bird flu pandemic hits today there will be just enough vaccines for eleven percent of the whole U.S. population. The vaccine is estimated to be developed around 2 years time. So we should just make sure that the virus does not become a pandemic during that time.

The stockpiling rumors of vaccines have just been said to calm down the general population. Especially those those are really panicky people. The reality is that Tamiflu is the one being stocked up.

Tamiflu is just an antiviral prescription drug. Tamiflu works because it has antiviral properties. However, when the outbreak occurs, there still won't be enough to help a lot of people. Tamiflu is supposed to be taken everyday. If a place does stockpile 100,000 pills, it will only be good for a thousand people for a hundred days. If a country does stock up, can you also imagine how costly a pill would cost?

The Tamiflu is really not that effective anyway on the H5N1 strain anyway. There are other antiviral pills made of more powerful herbs. They also don't require prescription and cheaper.

One of the best things to do is keep you well-informed. Try to learn about other herbs that have anti-viral properties as well. This will help prevent people from going on a panic when the outbreak does occur and the pills are insufficient. That can be prevented if the people stock up on herbs.

It is important to remember that we need to take charge of our own health. Remember to live a healthier lifestyle to help keep our immune systems stronger. This helps us be less adverse to the risk of the bird flu virus or any kind of flu virus.

As of the moment, people need to be getting worried about the H5N1 strain. This is because the virus is slowly affecting more people from various areas around the world. As of yesterday, the H5N1 strain has reached Africa.

Maybe sooner or later or possibly never, this virus may or may not hit. However, at least we did come prepare for the next big pandemic that could hit us.

Michael Colucci is a technical writer for Bird Flu Facts - A free site that offers facts on the history, prevention, vaccines and more on the Bird Flu Virus.

Bird Flu: A Global Outbreak, A Global Concern

In the 1330s, the bubonic plague killed millions of people. Transmitted by rats, the disease originated from China. It later spread to Europe when merchants came back from their long voyage from China. The disease was also spread by fleas that when passed on to humans, became fatal. The bubonic plague continued for years and took the lives of millions of people.

Seven centuries later, a new disease is threatening to kill many if precautions are not made. This new disease is avian influenza, more commonly known as bird flu. Instead of rodents, birds transmit this disease to humans. Birds carry the bird flu virus in their intestines when they migrate for the winter. The virus, which does not affect the carriers, is deadly to those who come in contact with birds carrying the virus. When chickens, birds or geese come in contact with a bird carrying the virus through the bird's saliva, nasal secretions or feces, they can become infected, fall ill and die in 48 hours.

Humans infected with bird flu have symptoms similar to symptoms of human influenza: fever, sore throat or muscle pain. Because of this similarity, it is easy to mistakenly diagnose an actual bird flu as human influenza. However, humans infected with avian flu would have worse symptoms - eye infections and respiratory problems that could become life threatening. Influenza in pandemic proportions is recorded to have happened three times during the 20th century. The Spanish Flu of 1918, the Asian Flu of 1957 and the Hong Kong Flu of 1968 claimed at least 20 million people worldwide.

It's important to mention that humans will not usually get bird flu unless they have been in close contact with infected poultry. Since the number of people that has been infected with the disease is still low and confined to a few children and adults, there is no serious cause of alarm yet. However, scientists and the health community are concerned that the disease, which usually affects poultry livestock, may evolve into something that will adversely affect humans. In some scenarios, the bird flu virus may become airborne or transmitted from one human to another.

The bird flu virus has many subtypes, but the subtype that is proving to be fatal to humans is called the H5N1. To date, about 70 people in Asia are confirmed to have died from H5N1.

When a bird flu outbreak occurs, the entire livestock has to be destroyed. This is similar to what happened during the mad cow disease outbreak when cattle had to be slaughtered and burned in order to prevent the disease from spreading to nearby cattle areas. The slaughtering and burning of cattle were done in many countries in the Asian region as well as in some parts of Eastern Europe and Russia.

Antiviral medications such as amantadine and rimantadine, which are usually given to treat influenza, do not work on the bird flu virus. Drugs are being developed and temporarily used on patients who appear to have succumbed to the avian flu disease. Although they appear to be responding to treatment and are showing improvements, further tests need to be done to ensure the effectivity of these new drugs.

Centuries ago, particularly during the bubonic plague, medical science was not yet developed to cope with an epidemic of pandemic proportions. However, with the advances in technology today, scientists will be able to study the avian flu disease further. By closely watching the migratory patterns of birds and understanding the disease, scientists may help prevent bird flu from becoming another global outbreak.

With the help of the internet, information can be disseminated quickly to thousands of people around the world and a reaction force can be immediately deployed to stop the disease from spreading any further.

It is important for people to realize that the bird flu virus is not merely one country's problem. It is a serious global problem that affects all countries and all peoples.

Niall Cinneide publishes a news site, with reports and articles, about avian flu at http://www.bird-flu-alert.info

This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact.

The Blessings Bird Flu Can Bring Us

Not long ago, I read an article about alternative health where someone with a serious disease was counseled to look upon it as a "blessing."

Your first reaction is probably the same as mine was -- what a stupid idea! How can cancer or heart disease be a blessing?

First off, let me say that I do believe that humanity's greatest strength is the ability to persevere in the face of problems and to turn negatives into positives -- lemons into lemonade.

So if you believe, as alternative health advocates do, that you do have some control over your health -- then any disease indicates that you need to make some kind of change in your life.

That may be a change in diet, reducing stress, etc. -- but if you can learn the lesson before the "teacher" disease kills you, you'll be healthier for having had the problem.

As I write, 105 people have died from bird flu from Indonesia to Turkey -- to alert humanity to the danger it's facing. We cannot raise them from the dead, but we can attempt to give meaning to their death by learning how to prevent more, and thereby making bird flu a blessing for survivors and our children.

The first step was taken about 5 months ago by President George W. Bush. As part of his request to Congress for 7 billion dollars to fight bird flu, he wants to advance the technology of making vaccines so that they can be created and manufactured more quickly.

A company in Isreal had already started working on a "generic" flu vaccine. That is, it would train your immune system to target the universal genetic structure of all influenza viruses. They originally planned to do in 5 years. Now they're trying to finish before bird flu goes pandemic.

Those of us who live in the developed world must stop being so complacent.

Because long after bird flu is a boring chapter in history, we will be threatened by new diseases.

Most Americans have heard of Ebola, but are not aware of the many other emerging diseases we have discovered in the past 20 to 30 years. It's a long and scary list.

And although they all seem remote from us, they're all just one international jet flight away. They're no more remote than West Nile fever was before it started killing birds and people in Brooklyn in 1999.

We need to take care of our immune systems.

We need to better track viral infections in people. The developed world needs to make its expertise and resources available, and the developing world needs to make public healthcare and a medical infrastructure a higher priority.

The U.S. Center for Disease Control has done a terrific job at this for many years. It needs to expand its operations, the UN World Health Organization needs to expand and national health systems around the world need to do a better job of tracking and controlling disease threats.

We need to do a much better job of incorporating alternative health methods into standard medical care.

We need to stop counting on Tamiflu and start expanding the use of Vitamin C (especially injected ascorbate for serious illnesses), curcumin, garlic, beta glucans and other supplements from mushrooms . . . for starters.

For poor countries it makes economic sense to make use of regional herbs and supplements over expensive drugs such as Tamiflu.

Also, a massive demand for effective herbs and substances should spur farmers in the developing world to raise those herbs in a sustainable fashion.

This would encourage good use of land and also bring cash income to the poor farmers, everybody else involved in the processing and shipping of the supplements and their communities.

The human race has survived and prospered by learning from its mistakes. A lot of people are going to die for the lessons we learn from the bird flu pandemic -- let's learn and apply as many of those lessons as possible.

We owe that to the dead and to our children.

Richard Stooker Richard discusses how to avoid avian bird flu in his book How to Protect Yourself and Your Family From Asian Bird Flu -- And check out his Asian Bird Flu blog

Why the Risk of a Bird Flu Pandemic Increases as the Virus Spreads

The bird flu virus can be compared to a monkey with a typewriter. And that's why it's getting more and more dangerous.

You may have heard the old observation that if you give enough monkeys a keyboard, eventually one will -- just by random chance -- type out the complete works of Shakespeare.

Of course, the odds against one monkey doing this are extremely high. The universe might implode before one monkey could do this.

But give a trillion monkeys a keyboard and maybe one will do it in a few million years. Give as many trillion monkeys as it takes to stretch from here to the next galaxy a keyboard, and chances are one out of those gazillions of monkey will actually type out the complete works of Shakespeare.

I'm comparing monkeys to the bird flu virus or A/H5N1.

The bird flu virus doesn't have to do anything comparable to a monkey typing out Shakespeare. It just has to mutate or recombine genetic material to become high contagious to people. That's the start of a pandemic.

For viruses, that's a lot easier to do than for a monkey to type out the complete works of Shakespeare. There're many strains of influenza viruses in the world which are highly contagious to people. Most of us have suffered from the flu, caught from a child or coworker, so we know that.

The more A/H5N1 viruses there are this world, the higher the probability that one of them will become highly contagious, human to human, just as ordinary flu is now.

Just as with monkeys -- the more viruses, the faster one of them becomes highly contagious.

Yes, A/H5N1 "hid out" in chickens in China and wild ducks from the December 1997 massacre of chickens in Hong Kong until bird flu started killing chickens in South Korea.

It spread through most countries of Southeast Asia without becoming a pandemic. It's spread into Europe and Africa without becoming a pandemic -- so far.

The more people or animals bird flu infects, the more H5N1 viruses there are. Replicating, mutating and recombining with ordinary flu viruses.

Whether it's chickens in Thailand, cats in Germany or little girls in Turkey . . . the more viruses, the greater the probability it will become highly contagious.

And because it's now so widespread, there's little chance that it will be contained soon. Scientists expect it to land in the New World by autumn.

It's out of control and spreading fast.

How long before one out of those many countless trillions of viruses becomes highly contagious?

c 2006 by Richard Stooker Richard discusses how to avoid avian bird flu in his book How to Protect Yourself and Your Family From Avian Bird Flu -- And check out his Avian Bird Flu blog

"Bird Flu" - A Critique of the President's Plan

Duncan and Associates
www.Duncan-Associates.com

President Bush, in a recent speech at the National Institutes of Health, outlined a program to spend $7.1 billion to protect the U.S. from the threat of avian influenza. "Our country has been given fair warning of this danger to our homeland and time to prepare," Mr. Bush said. "It's my responsibility as the president to take measures now to protect the American people." The proposed measures would include detecting outbreaks around the world and at home, stockpiling vaccines and anti-viral drugs, and being ready to respond at the federal, state and local levels in the event that a pandemic reaches the United States.

The President's plan would include $2.8 billion to speed development of a vaccine and $1.2 billion for the purchase of 20 million doses of vaccine. He also said the United States would spend one-billion dollars to increase stockpiles of antiviral drugs, such as Tamiflu? (oseltamivir), Symmetrel? (amantadine), Flumadine? (rimantadine), and Relenza? (zanamavir) - drugs that can reduce the severity of the illness when taken within 48 hours after becoming ill. A further $583 million is to be spent on domestic preparedness -- including $100 million going to the states -- and $251 million for aid to other countries.

The President's plan is apparently rooted in the CDC's long-awaited pandemic flu plan. This document has been more than a decade in the making. That report concluded that the nation is woefully ill prepared for a flu pandemic. Were one to occur, it says, hospitals would be overwhelmed, riots would engulf vaccination clinics, and even power and food would soon be in short supply. Members of the working group that developed the report have complained that no one at the upper levels of DHHS or at the White House considered the problem important or the report's warnings believable.

While many have been relieved to learn that the Bush administration has finally decided to take the threat of a flu pandemic seriously, the administration plan has found many critics. Even many of the Bush administration's usual supporters have questioned the administration's ability to respond effectively to this potential crisis. Conservative Republican and former House Speaker, Newt Gingrich, for instance, has commented that, " The problem with President Bush's plan is that they can't succeed in the current bureaucratic structure. Were the federal government ever entitled to the benefit of the doubt, it forfeited that presumption in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina."

Quite aside from doubts about the Bush administration's ability to respond in a timely fashion to any emergency, there are a substantial number of serious concerns about the President's plan. These concerns begin with the obviously vital need for early detection of outbreaks. Whether it is detection of avian flu or of bioterrorism, local health departments must carry on the vital frontline activity in detection. Unfortunately, funding for health departments nationally has been declining and the Bush administration is currently supporting further cuts in federal support for state and local public health. If this element of the President's plan is to be effectively implemented, then funding cuts for public health departments need to be restored.

Stockpiling vaccines sounds like an obvious strategy but their currently is no vaccine available to protect humans against the H5N1 virus that it is feared may go pandemic. Vaccine development efforts are under way that hopefully will provide a vaccine in time for use if needed. Clinical trials of a vaccine to protect humans against H5N1 virus began in April and researchers are working on a vaccine against H9N2, another bird flu virus subtype. Some of the problems and issues involved in developing a strain-specific vaccine to prevent a flu pandemic are discussed by David Fedson in a recent issue of the N.A.P.H.P.'s Journal of Public Health Policy (vol. 26, #4, pp. 2-9). Last years shortfall in vaccine for ordinary seasonal flu and more limited shortages this year despite assurances that there would be no shortfall raise serious concerns about the organizational capacity for adequately producing and distributing a strain specific vaccine once it has been developed.

Since a strain-specific vaccine will most likely not be available in the early stages of a pandemic due to its prolonged development time early control measures will most likely rely upon the third element of the Bush plan - stockpiling antiviral drugs. Four antiviral drugs -- amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir, and zanamivir -- are approved by the FDA for the treatment of influenza and three are approved for prophylaxis. All four have activity against influenza A viruses, but analyses of some of the 2004 H5N1 viruses isolated from poultry and humans in Asia have shown that the viruses are resistant to two of the medications (amantadine and rimantadine). Monitoring of avian influenza viruses for resistance to antiviral medications needs to be ongoing.

In addition to therapeutic use antiviral medications will probably be used for short-term postexposure prophylaxis for close contacts of influenza patients - often referred to as ring prophylaxis. This approach attempts to stop the spread of contagion. Such a strategy obviously can require a larger supply of the antiviral drugs than would initially be necessary for therapeutic use alone. Of course, of the strategy is successful there will be far fewer patients in need of flu treatment than if an epidemic continued to spread unabated. There is a serious risk of strategy failure, however, of there is not enough medicine immediately available to administer to all contacts as soon as the first cases are reported and enough must be available to last out the duration of the flu season. Depletion of the available stocks would leave the population vulnerable to additional outbreak waves, potentially caused by influx of new cases. Stockpiles thus need to be both large and readily available to frontline public health workers. . Aside from concerns over whether the Bush administration can be more timely and adequate in supplying antiviral medication than it was in getting aid to victims of Katrina, the Bush plan for antiviral stockpiling has another greater flaw. President Bush expects the states and local governments to pay 75 percent of the cost to buy 31 million of the 81 million courses of antiviral medications that will be part of the national stockpile. This at a time when every state seems to be in a fiscal crisis requiring budget cuts. What is to happen to states that cannot afford to pay this 75% share? Will they be given less medication or none at all? If so, then the entire strategy of ring prophylaxis will fail as the deprived states serve as a reservoir of infection spreading the disease to unprotected persons in neighboring states.

The announced plan calls for readiness at federal, state, and local levels and provides for $100 million to go to the states to develop response plans for a pandemic. But this comes at the same time as a $130 million dollar cut in federal aid for state public health, leaving the states with $30 million less to respond to any threat to the public's health. As Dr. Rex Archer, President of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, has commented, "You can't take away $130 million with the right hand, give us $100 million with the left hand, with strings attached, by the way, and expect that that's going to get us where we need to go." A plan is a fine thing but without the resources to carry it into effect it will be as useless as the plans New Orleans and FEMA both had for coping with a hurricane such as Katrina.

The Bush plan is a start and we should be glad that the President recently read John Barry's The Great Influenza and was moved by the experience to take the threat of a flu pandemic seriously. A great deal more thought needs to be given to the details of this plan and whether we face a flu pandemic this winter or not funding for public health desperately needs to be increased.

N ational Association for Public Health Policy
http://www.naphp.org

Relevant Reading:

Barry, J. M. (2004). The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague In History. New York: Viking Press.

Fedson, D. S. (2005). Preparing for Pandemic Vaccination: An International Policy Agenda for Vaccine Development. Journal of Public Health Policy, 26, 4-29. http://www.palgrave-journals.com/jphp/fedson_flu.html

HHS Pandemic Influenza Plan http://www.hhs.gov/pandemicflu/plan/

National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza http://www.whitehouse.gov/homeland/pandemic-influenza.html

Prof. Duncan is an epidemiologist and psychologist whose lengthy career has included positions in law enforcement, public health, and education. He has been a professor at Brown University, Southern Illinois University, the University of Cologne (in Germany), the State University of New york, and the New York State school of Psychiatry. He is currently President of Duncan and Associates and a director of the Fairview Community Health Cent

Bird flu: Europe to slaughter Israel!

ISRAEL TO BE SLAUGHTERED BY THE EUROPEANS!
They've let the European fox into the chickencoop

Deuteronomy 28:15
15 However, if you do not obey the LORD your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you...

Israel has been suffering from the "bird flu" for years, as a consequence of NATIONAL SIN (Daniel 9:11). Now it's coming to it conclusion since the Israeli people have rejected Kahane (the biblical ideals he represented) for Arafat and his Amalekite heirs: Israel is about to be slaughtered, having been sold out to EU interests by chickens, doves, turkeys and hawks (who prey upon their own people - not against Arab enemies).

The bloody vulture Shimon Peres must be caged, quarantined at least, since his unclean kind - symptoms of Israel's disease - have unleashed this sickness upon the Jewish homeland.

The Israeli sins are coming home to roost and the treacherous leaders who have prostituted themselves, who have sold out Israel, who imagine themselves immune from the EU plague, will soon suffer and die for it too.

Isaiah 28:14-15
14 Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers
who rule this people in Jerusalem.

15 You boast, "We have entered into a covenant with death,
with the grave we have made an agreement.
When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by,
it cannot touch us,
for we have made a lie our refuge
and falsehood our hiding place."

Will the Israelis undergo a cleansing coup and experience a heartfelt NATIONAL REPENTANCE? Will the Jews get rid of the filth in their lives and cull the foul leaders that pollute the nest and imperil the land? Will the Israelis insist upon Europe's new crusade to bring them to their knees and encourage them to clean up their act?

2 Chronicles 7:14
14 ...If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

David Ben-Ariel is a Christian-Zionist writer in Ohio and author of Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall. With a focus on the Middle East and Jerusalem, his analytical articles help others improve their understanding of that troubled region. Check out Beyond Babylon.

Avian Influenza - Bird Flu FAQ

As more and more cases of bird flu are reported, the world faces an immediate threat of a deadly pandemic. Pandemics (Global Disease Outbreaks) are known to be like flash floods. They start abruptly, spread fast and cause a lot of damage all over the world.

A few facts that everyone should know:

What is Avian Influenza?

As the name suggests, avian influenza refers to the infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. These viruses are commonly found in intestines of wild birds and these birds can carry the viruses without getting sick. However the viruses can be pathogenic to domesticated birds like chickens, ducks and turkeys. Domesticated birds become infected through exposure to other birds or through surfaces contaminated by secretions and faeces of the infected birds.

These viruses are classified as Low Pathogenicity and High Pathogenicity. Most strains of Avian Influenza come under Low Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (LPAI) Group and produce mild symptoms in the infected birds. Common symptoms are ruffled feathers, decreased food appetite, decreased egg production, sneezing and coughing. Many times LPAI may go undetected.

High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) has more severe symptoms which include sudden death, loss of energy and appetite, decreased egg production, respiratory problems, facial oedema (swelling), poorly formed eggs and diarrhoea. HPAI can reach a mortality rate of nearly 100%.

What Is H5N1 strain of Bird Flu?

All flu viruses are classified as type A, B or C depending on their structural arrangement. Type A is responsible for lethal pandemics and is found in both animals and humans. Type B causes local outbreaks of flu. Type C is the most stable of the three and infected people show only mild symptoms of flu. Type B and C are usually found only in humans. Type B and C are more stable than type A and are not classified according to their subtypes.

Influenza viruses of type A are divided into subtypes and the naming is done on the basis of two proteins (antigens) found on their surface - Hemagglutinin (HA) and Neuraminidase (NA). Sixteen types of HA and nine types of NA exist. Thus a total 144 combinations are possible.

Thus H5N1 is a type A virus and gets its name from HA 5 protein and NA 1 protein present on its surface.

How Do Type A Viruses Cause A Pandemic?

Type A viruses are further classified into strains. These strains can continuously evolve into different strains. Their ability to exchange genetic material with other viruses and create new influenza viruses makes them unpredictable and difficult to fight with. Humans have to develop new immunity (antibodies) every time new strains are created.

Viruses cannot repair genetic damage, small changes known as "Antigen Drift", are continuously creating new strains of viruses. However when genetic material from Type A viruses from different species - say a bird and a human, comes together and merges, an entirely new strain is created. This is known as "Antigen Shift" Humans have no immunity to such a strain and the strain can spread rapidly causing a Pandemic.

How Is The Virus Transmitted To Humans From Birds?

Usually Avian Influenza viruses do not infect humans. Migratory birds act as carriers of these viruses and do not get affected by them. These birds then come in contact with domesticated birds such as chickens and turkeys and spread the infection to them. Domesticated birds may get the virus from contact with contaminated surfaces too. Once a virus infects domesticated birds, it can cause severe epidemic among the birds. Humans come in contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces and pick up the virus.

In the human body, this avian flu virus then undergoes an antigenic shift, combines with genetic material of a human strain of influenza virus and creates an entirely new strain of virus against which humans have little or no immunity. These genetic reassortments may also take place is the body of a third species (susceptible to both avian and human viruses) like the pig, where an avian influenza A virus and human influenza virus mix their genetic information and produce a new virus which might be able to infect humans.

Why is H5N1 dangerous?

The first reported cases of H5N1 infections were detected in geese in 1997 in Southern China. A total of 18 human infections were reported and six of them succumbed to it. The infection spread quickly to poultry in Hong Kong. At that time a million and half chickens were culled in Hong Kong to keep the virus under control. The virus disappeared for a few years, but resurfaced in 2002 in Hong Kong again. Since then it has killed millions of birds in Asia and many cases of human infections have been reported.

The persistence of this H5N1 strain of virus is a great concern for humans. Although the virus does not spread from birds to humans easily, the severity of the infection of H5N1 in humans is frightening. The virus has killed every second person infected by it. These cases were reported in perfectly healthy individuals who had no past history of infections. However the greater concern for the world is the POSSIBILITY THAT THE VIRUS MAY MUTATE (UNDERGO ANTIGENIC SHIFT) AND CREATE A FORM THAT MAY SPREAD FROM HUMAN TO HUMAN. Such a strain of virus may result in a pandemic, killing millions of people worldwide.

Is Consumption Of Poultry Birds Safe?

Yes, it is safe to consume THOROUGHLY COOKED poultry products. The H5N1 virus is sensitive to heat and gets destroyed by normal cooking temperatures of 70- 100 degree Celsius. If meat from poultry birds and eggs are cooked properly, the virus will be destroyed. Just make sure that no part of the meat remains raw or uncooked.

How Big Is The Risk Of A Pandemic Breaking Out?

The world had to face a Bird Flu Pandemic, thrice in the twentieth century. In 1918-1919, "Spanish Flu" killed anywhere between 20 million to 50 million people (exact figures not known), including half a million in the United States alone. The "Asian flu" in 1957-58 killed 70,000 in the United States and in 1968-1969, the "Hong Kong flu" killed 34,000 in the USA.

Currently the risk of H5N1 strain leading to a Pandemic is high. The virus is spreading fast to new areas and the efforts made to curtail it have proved inadequate.

Domestic ducks have now become a "reservoir" for the virus. They are acting like a carrier for the virus - their bodies carry the virus without showing signs of any infection. Infected ducks then release large quantities of the virus in pathogenic form in their excretions spreading the virus to other birds or humans. This has made detection of the virus difficult especially in rural areas.

According to health experts, the virus has already met the first two prerequisites for starting a pandemic. First it has attained a form, for which humans have no inbuilt immunity; and second, it has proved pathogenic enough to cause serious illness and death in humans.

The present risk of a pandemic is very high. The only factor that has prevented a pandemic so far is that the virus has not mutated into a form that would allow it to transmit efficiently from one human to another. Once such a genetic change takes place for the virus, a pandemic will be inevitable. The first signs of such a reassortment will be presence of the clusters of patients with flu symptoms, closely related - both in time and space. This would be a clear indication of virus having the ability to transmit from human-to-human.

Currently no vaccine has been developed for fighting H5N1 strain. Simultaneous work is being done in many countries for developing a vaccine, but no success has been achieved. The exact virus that may cause the pandemic cannot be predetermined. Thus mass production of vaccine before the pandemic starts is ruled out. The worldwide manufacturing capacity is inadequate to match the sudden demand surge during a pandemic. The best that scientists can do is to carry out a study and determine the smallest amount of antigen per dose that will provide sufficient protection and thus maximise the number of vaccines produced.

What Are The Precautions Necessary To Prevent A Pandemic?

The logical first step is to control the disease from spreading among birds, but this seems a difficult task now. Bird Flu has become a bird epidemic in many parts of Asia and is spreading fast.

The Next step is to prevent the disease from getting passed on to humans. People who come in close contact with birds (like poultry farmers) are advised to keep a close watch on the health of birds, notify any sort of sickness in birds to the health authorities and avoid direct contact with sick birds in all cases. (Ducks have become a reservoir for the virus and may not exhibit signs of sickness even if they are carrying the virus.)

In case the flu becomes a pandemic, most countries of the world will be affected. In such a scenario, the best preventive measures would be personal hygiene, avoiding crowded places and staying away from raw meat and eggs.

A flu shot does not prevent bird flu, but it can protect a person from other forms of flu and avoid complications. Persons above 65 years of age, children, health services workers, people with chronic respiratory disorders, travellers to flu affected countries and pregnant women may consult a doctor regarding flu vaccination.

What Are The Symptoms In Humans and Treatment Options For Bird Flu?

A person infected by bird flu may have all symptoms of common flu like fever, persistent cough, sore throat and body ache. Moreover, there is a high risk of complications such as pneumonia, bronchitis, eye and ear infections and severe breathing problems.

Presently four drugs are used to combat influenza.

The most effective drugs known for seasonal flu are Oseltamivir (commercial name Tamiflu) and Zanamavir (Commercial name Relenza). Both of these are known to reduce severity and duration of seasonal flu, but they may prove ineffective if the virus is allowed to stay in the body for too long. Health professionals advise that TREATMENT OF FLU WITH THESE DRUGS SHOULD START WITHIN 48 HOURS OF FIRST APPEARANCE FLU SYMPTOMS.

Oseltamivir and Zanamavir fall in the Neuraminidase inhibitors class. The surface protein Neuraminidase breaks bonds between new viruses and infected cells. By blocking the activity of Neuraminidase, these two drugs prevent the new viruses from being released.

Another class of drugs - the M2 inhibitors is also available, but viruses develop resistance to these drugs quickly and thus these drugs may prove ineffective in controlling pandemics. Amantadine and Rimantadine are two drugs from this class. These drugs inhibit the activity of M2 protein, which forms a channel in membranes of viruses and thereby preventing the viruses from replicating.

One should consult a doctor before taking any of these drugs as THESE DRUGS ARE KNOWN TO HAVE SIDE EFFECTS IN SOME CASES. For example, Zanamavir is not recommended to people having chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma.

(This article was written on 25th January 2006 and may not contain developments that took place after this date.)

Sachin A. is a Freelance Writer and specializes in articles that require extensive research. Check out his work at http://www.rightarticle.com

How To Lower Your Risk Of Catching Flu (Including Bird Flu)

Influenza is in no way a new ailment to plague the people of the world. However, a new deadly strand of the virus has everyone running for cover. How do you avoid catching flu, including the dangerous bird flu that threatens so many?

First, it should be explained that bird flu, also known as avian influenza, is a virus much like the regular flu we are accustomed to. It is transmitted in much the same way, through droplets of saliva and mucus. However, bird flu is currently only transmitted from infected birds to humans and can not be passed from human to human like the regular flu. The main concern arises with bird flu as it is expected to mutate and at some point be transmitted by humans as well. Until this takes place, bird flu is only passed from infected birds to humans by way of direct contact with the animal or its feces.

The current outbreak of bird flu is taking place in Asia; therefore, there is little concern of catching the virus unless you are in that region and handling fowl. However, once the virus mutates it will be transmitted much like the standard flu and may be avoided in much the same way.

The obvious first step in lowering your risk of catching the virus is being administered a vaccine. There is currently not a vaccine for the dangerous strand of influenza, but one is being developed. With any luck one will be produced prior to any widespread contamination of the virus.

Another option is one utilized in most regular flu cases - taking antiviral medication, such as Tamiflu. These are expected to be effective on the dangerous strand of influenza as well as the regular flu virus. However, for this treatment to be useful, it must be administered early in the virus, typically within two days of showing symptoms. This and other drugs do not cure the virus, but instead lessen the effects of the symptoms. They may, however, prevent the virus from becoming severe.

The most effective way to avoid catching the flu, the regular flu as well as the bird flu, is prevention. Proper hygiene reduces the risk of the spread of influenza. Simple things, like washing your hands and avoiding close contact with sick people, may be your best technique in lowering your risk of becoming infected. Utilizing hand sanitizer is also a useful option.

About the Author: Sarah is an acclaimed writer on medical matters, and has written extensively on the subjects of Attention Deficit Disorder, Bird Flu and Crohn?s Disease. For more of her articles, go to http://www.imedicalvillage.com now. Click here now and re