Bird Flu Pandemic

Bird Flu Pandemic What is a pandemic? Defined by Dictionary.com a pandemic is:

Widespread, general. Medicine. Epidemic over a wide geographic area and affecting a large proportion of the population: pandemic influenza. Are Pandemics Common?

On average mass epidemics occur every 20-30 years. It has been over 40 years since the last one.

If the Avian Influenza Virus mutates to a strand that is easily transmitted to humans it could kill millions.

In order for it to become a pandemic strain, it would have to adapt to become highly infectious to humans by injecting itself into a human virus.

Can it be Controlled? By changing traditional farming practices in Asia where animals and humans chares unsanitory quarters the likelihood of a spread would decrease.

Other facts: Over the last year, the virus has killed 32 vietnamese, 12 Thais, and one Cambodian.

The virus also hasbeen found in other animals such as tigers and cats.

For more information go to What is Bird Flu?

 

How to Protect Yourself From the Emotional Dark Side of Preparing for a Bird Flu Pandemic

I believe that a bird flu pandemic is quite possible and that people should prepare for it.

I devote a lot of time to thinking and writing about how to protect yourself and your family from bird flu.

I believe that my motivation -- and the motivation of others sounding the alarm and the many people around the world who are working to prepare for a contagious form of bird flu is positive. We want to make sure that a bird flu pandemic kills as few people as possible.

However, people are people and few of us are 100% saints.

Therefore, although it dismays me, it doesn't surprise me that some people display a less pleasant side of human nature.

None of us are immune. I'll admit that I have a list of people whom I'd like to die from bird flu. I mean, I don't really want anybody to die, but if SOMEBODY has to -- let it be them. A few on my list are in my personal life.

Others I'd really like to see die from bird flu are all the enemies of freedom. That's all terrorists and those supporting and encouraging them. Not to mention dictators who threaten world peace such as the head of North Korea. And although he's not as dangerous, I'd be happy to see Fidel Castro go.

However, I realize that if a bird flu pandemic actually happens, the virus doesn't care anything about the nature of its victims. H5N1 would just as soon infect an innocent baby as a terrorist planning to set off a nuclear bomb. And the children of Iran would be far more at risk than its fanatically dangerous president.

Yet I know that there're many people who love to read post-apocolyptic science fiction because they love to fantasize about solving the problems of today by starting over. Some of them believe they'd be better off by living in a world where might made right. And I remember one feminist SF fan telling me that she enjoyed imagining that if the world had to stay over from scratch that women could make sure the patriarchy was eliminated.

I was not surprised to read in a bird flu forum recently that the poster believed that it was good that bird flu would eliminate a lot of people, because the world was overpopulated.

A professor nicknamed Dr. Doom recently acquired some notoriety by expressing much the same sentiment in a speech to some scientists. According to him, people are no better than bacteria. He actually said that he hoped a terrorist would spread Ebola to kill 90% of the human race. But "bird flu would work too." The audience actually applauded him.

One problem here is that we are concerned for ourselves and our loved ones, and the other 6.5 billion people are meaningless to us. However, most everybody is loved and valued by their own friends and family. It's easy to kill off 5 or 6 billion faceless numbers, but people who have faces, personalities and emotions -- especially children -- that's a lot different.

It's also easy to believe that you are one of the protected ones who will survive the bird flu pandemic. Yet Americans are no more virus-proof than Vietnamese children. If the Earth wants to get rid of people, why not you too?

Then there're the religious crazies. When bird flu was first found in Israel, an extremist Jew said that was God's punishment for removing the settlers from the Palestinian territories and a Palestinian Muslim cleric said it was God's punishment of Israel for being Jewish.

Since bird flu has so far infected countries and people who are: Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, officially atheistic, unofficially Taoist and Christian -- I don't think the virus cares about religion.

So all I ask -- and I know that when emotions, especially fear, run high this is difficult -- is to recognize the more hateful emotions within you, and then remember that our real enemy is the H5N1 virus.

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

Battle against Bird Flu- Are we Prepared

Nature God is a whimsical God. At times it bestows all its boons on mankind and then there are times when it shows its harshest face. Since times immemorial man has been betraying nature and transforming it according to his own needs and requirements. Every time the human race tries to change the natural cycle there occurs devastation, a warning from the nature?s side. But man is even blessed with greatest gifts from the almighty in the shape of this Mother Nature. In case there occurs any trouble that is more because of his wrong deeds and ill doings. But he courageously faces the consequences and tries to find a solution to the existing problem.

This time the problem occurred with the chickens. The spread of this disease called Avian Flu or Bird Flu. At this time avian influenza (H5N1), is a disease of wild birds and domesticated poultry like farm chickens, ducks, and turkeys. Although millions of birds have been infected, only a very small number of people have been infected. Because all influenza viruses have the ability to change there is concern that the H5N1 virus could mutate and be spread easily and widely by humans. If that happens, it is possible that a pandemic or widespread outbreak of disease could occur. Viruses are masters of interspecies navigation. Mutating rapidly and often grabbing the genetic material of other viruses, they can jump from animals to humans with a quick flick of their DNA. Since the 1980s, the list of diseases that have hitchhiked directly from animals to people has grown rapidly ? hantavirus, SARS, monkey pox and, most recently, avian influenza, commonly called bird flu. With the exception of HIV/AIDS, perhaps none of these illnesses has more potential to create widespread harm than bird flu does.

In people, bird flu usually begins much like conventional influenza, with fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches, but bird flu can lead to life-threatening complications. Avian influenza is not easily passed from birds to humans. People may get avian influenza by touching an infected bird, fluid or surfaces contaminated with fluids from infected birds and then touching their eyes, nose, or mouth. People who could be at risk are those who travel to countries with outbreaks of avian influenza and have close contact with live or improperly cooked poultry while there. Individuals with avian influenza (H5N1) usually develop symptoms within 10 days of contact with infected birds. Symptoms are usually severe and include high fever, muscle aches, cough, mucus production and shortness of breath. Abdominal pain and diarrhea can also occur.

Influenza viruses survive by mutating constantly and if the bird flu virus mutates to an airborne human to human virus the consequences could be catastrophic. Due to the hazardous effects of this fatal disease it became a challenge for the pharmacologists and scientists to find a solution to this problem and that came with TAMIFLU. Right now, the primary treatment option is the flu drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu), a neuraminidase inhibitor that works by preventing the virus from escaping its host cell. It's not clear how effective Tamiflu will ultimately prove against (A) H5N 1. So, now no more fears regarding this disease. Buy chap, online tamiflu and get rid of all the troubles and fears. So today again the human race is prepared to fight against this precarious disease and maintain the continuity of human race.
For more informations Visit: http://www.checkflu.com/
 

Bird Flu - Likely To Occur Again And Again

There are three types of Influenza ? Pandemic flu, Bird flu or avian flue and Seasonal flu.
Among them Bird Flu or Avian Flu is our present topic of discussions.

The recent Bird Flu pandemic in different parts of this planet is causing concern to every one. Let us see what Bird Flu is and what their origin is.

Like humans, birds are also susceptible to Influenza. Migratory wild fowls, notably wild ducks, are natural carriers of this disease. The disease is caused by the virus of type H5 and H7. The present day concern is about the strain H5N1 which is deadly and may be fatal to humans who come in close contacts with the live and infected bird.

It is astonishing that, although the wild migratory birds carry the virus, they are seldom attacked by this. But they can easily transmit the disease by their droppings and other secretion to the domestic birds like chickens, fowls and even other domestic animals like pigs causing them ill with avian influenza.

Global concern is that the bird flu virus, if transmitted from the ailing bird to humans, may mutate and become fatal to the person affected by it. For the last few years, considerable number of human deaths occurred due to the infection from the ailing birds.

Bird flu out breaks and their subsequent effects on humans are not uncommon in history. In 1918, outbreak of human flu pandemic was recorded. This, as well as flu pandemics of 1957 and 1968 are believed to have been the results of Bird flu.

In recent years of 1997, 1999, 2002 and 2003, bird flu pandemics occurred and affected the humans also causing a few deaths in Hong Kong and other far east countries.

Actually, as the disease is carried by migratory birds, there is no way of preventing the disease to spread. The bird flu pandemics can be expected to occur three or four times in hundred years, according to WHO experts.

So we should protect the domestic birds such that they are not fallen into contacts with the droppings and other secretions of the wild virus carrying birds.

Appropriate medicine for bird flu is generic Tamiflu whose medical name is Oseltamivir Phosphate which attacks the influenza virus and stops it spreading inside the body. It is an oral anti viral medicine.

Here we are providing some Tamiflu information below:

§ The recommended dose of Tamiflu is one 75 mg capsule to be taken two times daily. The medicine is to be taken for five days.

§ The medicine can be taken with or without food.

§ The drug has its side effects too. The most frequently reported side effects are nausea, vomiting, bronchitis, trouble sleeping and dizziness.

§ The drug is not approved to be used for children under the age of 18.

§ Its effectiveness to prevent the flu or to decrease the risk of transmitting the virus to others has not been established.

Probably we can not check the pandemic of bird flu. Its nature is such that it will occur again and again. But we can take measures to save domestic birds as well as man kind at large by proper protection against it.

Jenifer D'souza is an amateur writer to http://www.finegenerics.com providing information on all health related topics or on the latest health topics. For more information, contact jenifr@gmail.com or visit http://www.finegenerics.com

Bird Flu Facts Can Save Lives

Doctors and scientists around the world fear it may well become the next pandemic. People have died and many are concerned it's just a matter of time before the crafty bird flu manages to spread not only from bird to human but also from human to human.

The scare level is high as scientists race to create a vaccine and reports of deaths slowly rack up. But what is the bird flu and what can be done to prevent its spread, and more importantly, protect people?

The bird flu is a strain of influenza occurs naturally in birds. Much like humans, wild birds all over the world carry viruses in their intestines, but generally don't become sick from them. Avian influenza, however, is different and can make some birds, including chickens, ducks and turkeys quite sick and can even result in death.

While most bird viruses don't effect humans, the latest strains have been creating problems in the human world, thus the concerns. Since 1997 there have been 100 confirmed cases of human infection with bird flu viruses.

People can become infected with bird flu through close contact with infected birds and most especially their excretions and secretions. Although the spread of the illness from one person to the next has been reported only rarely, and even then not beyond one additional person, there are many concerns in the scientific and medical communities that this will not continue. Viruses such as the flu are well known for their abilities to mutate and there's no reason to believe that won't be the case with this quite deadly strain of flu.

Avian flu symptoms in humans are very much like those of run-of-the-mill flu - with a wide variety found. These can include cough, sore throat, fever, eye infections, respiratory issues and other life-threatening complications.

While it's believed the medications that can help ease the symptoms of human flu viruses might help in the case of the avian flu, there are concerns the bird virus will become resistant to these drugs, creating a bigger issue. At this time there is no vaccine for the bird flu either.

At this point, it is not believed a person can become infected with the bird flu by eating poultry or eggs. As long as safe cooking practices are followed, there should be little concern. To avoid exposure, make sure chicken and eggs are properly cooked and take care to clean up well following preparation. Washing hands and kitchen surfaces is an absolute must. Sanitary practices are a must in avoiding the bird flu and lots of other viruses and bacterial conditions as well.

Will the avian flu become the next pandemic, striking and perhaps killing thousands and thousands the world over?

Unfortunately, only time will tell. The potential, scientists fear, is absolutely there. The only way at this point for people to protect themselves is to use common sense when handling birds - either domestic or wild. Don't eat, drink or smoke while handling birds, live or dead. Wash hands thoroughly and use caution while cooking.

As it is with so many other illnesses, the simple act of hand washing frequently and correctly can go a long way toward minimizing exposure.

Bird flu update and safety precautions.

http://www.bird-flu-report.com

Can A Respirator/Mask Really Help Against Bird Flu?

Surgical masks and respirators are forms of personal protective equipment used to guard against the spread of infectious diseases. With the increased onset of bird flu, many manufacturers and distributors of various protective equipment have touted incredible results from the use of their products. Do they hold water? Do these respirators and masks actually protect against bird flu?

For many years, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended the use of various forms personal protective equipment to safeguard against spreading diseases. Of these are surgical masks. These masks are manufactured to block the passage of tiny particles such as the influenza virus and keep the particles from reaching the eyes, mouth, and nose of the wearer, therefore preventing infection.

However, all masks are not developed to guard against infection. Masks for healthcare use are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which ensures certain standards and criteria are met by all personal protective equipment. Therefore, if a mask is FDA approved, you can be assured the mask protects against the spread of infection. However, if a mask is not approved by the FDA, you should consider purchasing a different type.

Many manufactures are specifically guaranteeing bird flu protection; it should be understood that the FDA does not test for specific forms of disease, and therefore, companies are not allowed to make such allegations. If similar claims are made, you should be skeptical of the company's validity and the quality of their products. There is a website to search for approved FDA masks, http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/devicesatfda/index.cfm?st=fxx+or+(surgical+mask). On the other hand, the CDC determines which type of equipment is appropriate for varying conditions.

You do not need a prescription or any special information to buy these masks and they can be bought at most pharmacies, medical supply stores and on the internet. However, if you are buying from the internet, be certain you are dealing with a reputable company to be certain you are purchasing quality products.

For the most part, personal protective equipment has proven to be a very effective way to prevent against infection. However, the CDC does not suggest or imply the use of these masks is appropriate for common use to keep from becoming infected. They suggest, instead, staying home when you are sick and simply staying away from sick people to prevent the spread of illnesses. However, with the threat of bird flu, many are seeking any means available to guard against infection.

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