Dogs and Cats Killed in an Attempt to Thwart a Bird Flu Outbreak

Officials began the slaughter on Tuesday. Park Kyung-hee, an Iksan city official, indicated the culling would include 677 dogs raised on a farm for their meat and 300 pigs. Numbers of other dogs and cats including pets to be exterminated were not estimated. The culling will go so far as to kill even the mice in the area.

The World Health Organization has confirmed 253 human cases of bird flu resulting in 153 deaths, a staggering 59% death toll. To date there has been no documented evidence to suggest that the H5N1 form of bird flu can be spread to humans by dogs, cats or pigs.

It is clear however that pig to human transmission of seasonal flu occurs and authorities are being cautious. Most animals that have become infected are believed to have acquired the virus by eating infected raw birds or poultry. Cats are known to be able to spread the infection to other cats and it is believed that at least some of the tiger deaths have been due to tiger to tiger transmission as well.

Kim Chang an official with the health ministry said that other Southeast Asian countries also cull dogs, pigs and cats, but just haven?t publicized it. Kim stated that all mammals are potentially a source of the virus and that South Korea was just trying to take all precautionary measures to contain the virus.

European countries have issued guidelines to pet owners in areas where exposure to bird flu may occur. Recommendations include keeping cats indoors and dogs on leash. Bird flu is known to be present in bird excrement and carcasses both of which should be avoided.

One of the often unappreciated dangers of the H5N1 version of avian influenza is its? ability to infect many non-avian species. This broad host spectrum is something that?s not common amongst flu viruses. Cats for example are usually not infected with influenza A viruses.

H5N1 has been associated with death in many mammalian species including, dogs, cats, pigs, ferrets, tigers, snow leopards and fox. According to the Center for Disease Control other mammals may be susceptible as well. The virus is continually evolving and appears to be expanding its? host range.

Studying the evolution of H5N1 Dr Kawaoka, of the University of Wisconsin, has found isolates of the virus from humans that have acquired two mutations that make them better suited to infecting humans. He said, ?We are watching this virus turn itself into a human pathogen.?

The tragic death of dogs and cats in Korea has stirred the hearts of many and made headlines. This drastic action serves as wakeup call to prepare and protect our loved ones including the furry ones. The time to act though is now as a much larger tragedy will ensue if the virus continues to evolve to a pandemic strain.

Tracy Ferea, Ph.D. is a published scientist whose research at Stanford focused on evolution of genomes. She writes for Bird Flu Smart, http://www.birdflusmart.com, to increase the general publics understanding of the risk of a bird flu pandemic. Bird Flu Smart?s mission is to prepare the public for a pandemic by providing both information and products that increase the level of preparedness http://birdflusmart.com/products.html

All The Secrets You Need To Know About The Asian Bird Flu

There is a deadly disease that has and still is sweeping nations across South East Asia. It's now beginning to be known as the Asian bird flu. So what is it and how does it affect people? Well the Asian bird flu is a virus that is spread by birds, hence the name bird flu. It's a type of influenza virus that can spread like wildfire when given the opportunity.

So you're wondering how Asian bird flu is contracted by humans if it's a strand of influenza that only affects birds? Well unfortunately, bird flu is like many other strands of influenza being that it has the potential to mutate into other strands when placed in the right environment. This of course has occurred many times and has resulted in catastrophic proportions on the human population.

Recent Breakouts Of The Asian Bird Flu

The most recent breakouts have occurred in South East Asia and more particularly Indonesia, where many people died in a very short period of time. Luckily modern medicine is far more adept at treating influenza viruses these days. If the same breakout had have happened back at the beginning of the 20th century many more people would have died and its potential to spread across countries would have been greater. This of course did happen several times nearly 100 years ago and many people lost their lives.

What Can We To Prevent Something Like The Asian Bird Flu From Occurring

Well first of all measurements are being taken to prevent poultry from becoming infected in the first place. Poultry farms are usually the beginning of any outbreak. Why? Well, poultry like chicken and ducks sometimes become infected by wild birds who of course contain an antibody that protects them from the Asian bird flu. This of course doesn't mean they still can't carry the virus and when a bird kept in captivity comes in contact with a carrying wild bird, it then becomes infected. That bird then passes it onto the rest of the birds on the farm and before you know it, there's an epidemic.

If this happens, there is usually a mass culling of poultry to prevent any chance of Asian bird flu spreading any further. Unfortunately in many cases, infected chicken is sold to consumers and that's where it can become a problem for people. The virus has the potential to mutate into a disease that harmful for humans and that can also be spread from human to human.

If you want to learn more about birdflu including free information, course reviews and much more, or you want to join our free weekly newsletter then please visit bird flu (Recommended) or for more free articles all about bird flu visit www.BirdFluReview.com/BirdFlu

What is Bird Flu

Bird flu is a contagious disease of animals that is caused by viruses. This virus is called avian influenza. This virus normally infects only birds. It is highly species-specific and on rare occasions cross the species barrier to infect humans. The infection with avian influenza virus causes two main forms of disease, distinguished by low and high extremes of symptoms. The low pathogenic form commonly causes only mild symptoms such as ruffled feathers or a drop in egg production. These may easily go undetected. The highly pathogenic form is far more serious. It spreads very rapidly through poultry flocks, causes disease affecting multiple internal organs, and has a mortality rate of 100%, which is often reached within 48 hours. How this virus spreads is still unknown. The role of migratory birds is not fully evident. Wild waterfowl are believed to be the natural reservoir of all influenza viruses. They have probably carried influenza viruses for centuries. Considerable circumstantial evidence suggests that migratory birds do bring in low pathogenic viruses to poultry flocks, which later mutates to highly pathogenic form. Any kind of widespread persistence of this virus in poultry population poses two main risks for human health. The first is the risk of direct infection when the virus passes from poultry to humans, resulting in very severe disease. The other that is of even greater concern is when the virus gets enough opportunities and changes into a form that is highly infectious for humans and spreads easily from person to person. This may even turn into pandemic flu and can be fatal. The drugs available for treatment of bird flu are not many. For cases of human infection a class of antiviral drugs, the amantadine and rimantadine, can potentially be used against pandemic influenza. The famous pharmaceutical company ROCHE's bird-flu drug Tamiflu is also available.

Norma Dsouza is a Health and Fitness Consultant. For more details please visit: www.checkflu.com

7 Simple Ways to Boost Your Immune System Against Bird Flu - and Every Other Infectious Disease

If nothing else, the bird flu scare should remind us not to take our immune systems for granted.

According to U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Michael Leavitt, it'll take 6 months after a contagious strain of bird flu is isolated to make enough doses of vaccine to innoculate everybody in the U.S.

By that time, the pandemic will be over.

The message is clear -- we're responsible for our own health.

1. Get 7 to 8 hours sleep every night.

I believe this is very important, and many recent studies verify that sleep is essential for our health in many areas. That's why when you feel sick all you want to do is lie down and close your eyes. That is nature giving you a clue. I know that when I feel a cold coming on the best I can do for it is to sleep for as long as possible.

2. Exercise moderately.

Too many people are either couch potatoes or ultra-marathon fanatics. Yet good health lies in staying active -- without overstressing yourself.

3. Stop smoking.

Cigarette smoking weakens the small hairs called cilia which line your respiratory tract. These are particularly important in fighting bird flu and other respiratory infections because they guard your lungs against infection.

4. Reduce alcohol to 0-3 ounces a day.

I'm not lecturing you here. Alcohol is not immoral. But in large quantities it reduces your immunity.

5. Cut way down on sugar. It weakens your immune system.

In fact, cut down on all forms of starchy carbohydrates -- including wheat (yes, even whole wheat), rice and other grains.

6. Take a good multi-vitamin/mineral. At the very minimum, you need Vitamin A, Vitamin C, zinc and selenium.

7. Wash your hands thoroughly through the day.

Your skin is part of your immune system -- and touching infected people and objects with your hands is the most common way to catch colds and the flu.

Wash those viruses away -- scrub your hands with soap and water for 30 seconds at a time.

Face it -- you are under constant attack by germs. Bacteria, viruses and parasites want to feed off you and many of them will make you sick.

Some cancers are known to be caused by viral infections. Some medical researchers believe that many more cancers than we realize are caused by infections. And no matter how cancer is caused originally, a powerful immune system is good at destroying cancerous cells before they multiply. A weak immune system is more likely to allow tumors to survive.

Besides, bird flu, we face assaults by a wide range of previously unknown emerging infections such as West Nile fever. Plus newly resurgent medical threats such as tuberculosis.

And bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics.

Even if bird flu never becomes a problem in your area, you need a strong immune system to fight off diseases.

Learn How to Protect Yourself and Your Family From the Avian Influenza Pandemic

Latest news and immune info at: Bird Flu Updates

How Many People Would a Bird Flu Pandemic Kill?

You see a lot of wild and crazy estimates for this. Yet, the truth is, there's no simple answer. It depends on a lot of things -- and the most important factors are still unknown.

First of all, I don't put any stock in the simplistic estimates that are based on 1918. We're living in a much different world. H5N1 is a different virus.

Some estimates are based on more sophisticated mathematical models. The only problem is, right now critical variables are still unknown.

First variable is known as the lethality rate. That is, what percentage of infected people will bird flu kill?

Right now, based on known victims, it's consistently killing just over half. However, the numbers of patients are still quite small, so that may not be statistically accurate. Plus, many of those patients are receiving good medical care. It may kill a higher percentage of those who don't make it to hospitals.

It's also true that we probably don't know the true number of infected people. Just a few days ago Indonesia announced that it just learned that a little girl who died there last year had bird flu, even though several of her family members were known to have died of it.

If a relatively advanced country isn't getting around to testing an obviously suspect child patient until 8 months after her death -- what's happening in sub-Saharan Africa?

How many more victims are going undetected? That's unknown. On the bright side, it's possible that some or many victims are recovering without being tested so the actual lethality rate might be lower than we think.

If and when H5N1 mutates into a highly contagious form, its lethality rate could go lower. Until it actually happens, we just don't know.

But it is frightening to compare H5N1 to the 1918 flu, because the 1918 flu had a lethality rate of 2.5% -- so if contagious bird flu retains anything like its current apparent lethality rate, it could be much deadlier than 1918 flu. Which would make comparisons between them way over-optimistic.

To measure the spread of a disease, scientists use the contagion rate.

This is -- how many other people on average does one infected person spread the flu to?

Partly this is based on the virus itself, so we just can't know this until it does mutate. However, right now H5N1 is a tough virus -- it can survive for hours outside a human body and in water. This means that you could be infected by an A/H5N1 virus left on a doorknob by someone who opened that door several hours before you.

Overall contagion rate must be affected by population density. Bird flu will infect more people in a crowded Calcutta slum than in rural Wyoming.

And here's a great difference between now and 1918. The world's population is over 6 times higher. But since some areas of the world are so densely crowded, it's possible that chicken flu would spread through them very quickly and kill even more than 6 times as many people as in 1918.

Plus, in 1918 various areas of the world defended themselves by closing themselves off from the outside world. Some places can still do this, but most of the world is much less self-sufficient. Unless you're on an island that supplies its own food and water, you can't isolate yourself from other people.

And even if you can -- there's still the risk of contagion from animals. So your island better not be under a duck migration route. Because duck manure does contain the active virus.

Plus, the world's population may be more susceptible to infection than in 1918. Everybody infected with HIV is at risk, for example.

Bird flu would likely travel around the world more quickly today because we have much more international travel. We go places by jet instead of steam ships.

There's another advance in transportation -- not usually mentioned -- which will affect transmission of bird flu: the automobile. Only a very few people in 1918 had cars, and there was no system of highways.

Now cars and highways connect the entire developed world. And are common and widespread in the developing world.

Of course, riding alone in a car during a lethal flu pandemic is safer than riding in a bus, train or other mass transit vehicle with many other people. Yet if you're the one infected, a car can help you spread the virus farther and faster than you could have in 1918.

There's another risk of death the world's population faces from A/H5N1, which is not being addressed.

That's the risk of the consequences of the pandemic.

If the pandemic causes many deaths the world's economy will be disrupted.

There'll be shortages of food, water, medicine, energy and other necessities. This could last for a year or more, if agriculture is greatly affected.

In many places there's likely to be problems with both law and order and civil unrest.

In a pandemic of any significant seriousness there will death caused by a large number of various groups seeking to take advantage of the situation: ordinary criminals, terrorists, organized crime, renegade groups of soldiers and police, ethnic/racial hate groups, political/religious extremists of all stripes -- and just any old mob looking to loot and kill just because they can get away with it, or to scapegoat some other group for the pandemic.

In some cases there's bound to be organized armed battles and wars between countries and between competing groups within countries.

My personal belief is that there'll be great civil unrest but ultimately society as we know it will prevail -- though the world's map may change in many places.

With central governments weakened by deaths and lack of resources, many disaffected ethnic groups will seize the opportunity to become independent.

On the other hand, many ethnic majorities will seize the opportunity to blame ethnic minorities for the pandemic -- and kill them in riots.

The severity of events will likely fall somewhere between the temporary default of law and order in New Orleans during the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the total anarchy of Stephen King's novel THE STAND.

How can anybody predict the number of dead from these events?

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

Recognizing Bird Flu Symptoms - What To Look For

We live in a marvelous time when technology has become man's servant. For the average person, everyday living has become more a matter of pressing buttons than a matter of hard physical labor. Meanwhile, advancements in technology have crossed the digital divide. There are far fewer barriers to communication now. Also, it is now possible to diagnose most serious diseases. In many cases we can even cure these diseases.

Some of these diseases can be fatal and spread quickly. One of the short-term outbreaks of recent history was SARS. One of the diseases not yet cured is HIV/AIDS. Bird flu, or avian influenza, is one of the diseases that medical science has targeted as likely to spread from human to human soon, unless a more effective immunization or other cure is discovered first.

A plain description of the bird flu threat

In very general terms, bird flu is an infection of a flu virus that originally spread among birds. Avian influenza viruses can spread around the globe because birds migrate great distances. These viruses are typically found in the bird's intestines. Many of these viruses do not cause severe symptoms in the birds. When birds are packed closely together, such as in poultry farms with chickens and turkeys, the avian influenza viruses spread very rapidly among them.

Bird flu crossing the species barrier into humans was first confirmed in Hong Kong in 1997. Since that time the World Health Organization (WHO) has worked with government and private health agencies around the world to try to monitor the disease. Many of these agencies are seeking remedies for human cases of the bird flu, while monitoring for any mutations in the disease that might lead to a spread among humans or change how the disease can be remedied.

There is currently little risk of bird flu for most people, as it requires close interaction with infected birds or bird feces. However, for those who have constant contact with birds, the risk becomes very high during outbreaks in local poultry. This is particularly true for the current strain of bird flu known as H5N1, or avian influenza A. The alarm was sounded around the end of 2003 when H5N1 infected poultry in several Asian countries led to several human infections. About half of those infected died.

Know the symptoms

Bird flu spreads by contact with an infected bird's saliva, nasal secretions, or feces. Other birds appear to have little resistance to the disease when they come in contact with the virus and are quickly infected. Hence the more closely birds interact the more quickly it spreads. Humans who interact with these birds without proper protective gear are also susceptible to the disease.

It is important to know the symptoms of bird flu so that you can respond quickly and appropriately if you see these symptoms. In birds the H5N1 strain can cause diarrhea, difficulty breathing, excessive shedding, and a swollen head. Of course if you're not a bird expert you're unlikely to be able to differentiate these symptoms from normal bird behavior, save the difficulty breathing. And you certainly won't note these symptoms unless you're up close to see the bird.

Some of the more general symptoms of bird flu are the same symptoms you'd likely see in any flu strain. These symptoms are cough, headache, fever, sore throat, chest pains, muscle aches, and lethargy. Some severe symptoms that may be an alarm for bird flu are pneumonia, eye infections, acute respiratory problems such as breathing difficulties, inflammation of the heart, and inflammation of the brain.

As noted, many of the symptoms of bird flu can be confused with a normal flu. Many of the other symptoms are hard for anyone but a trained health care worker to identify. However, if you have any reason to suspect these symptoms are present, you should seek immediate medical attention for the sake of the infected individual and everyone else who might become infected if H5N1 should make the human to human leap.

Niall Cinneide publishes a news site, with reports and articles about bird flu symptoms 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.

Simple Solutions To Complicated Problems Such As Bird Flu

There is a simple solution for preventing of the spread diseases like Bird Flu. It is known that bird feeders are a source of transmission of avian flu viruses and related diseases. Many communities have zoning laws which are meant to prevent people from feeding pigeons and seagulls. Bird droppings, when massed in open areas close to pedestrian walkways and windows provide ideal pathways for pathogens to spread not only from bird to bird, but from bird to humans. We therefore suggest that if you want to feed birds and provide for there needs you consider planting shrubs and trees that provide birds with sources of food that more mimics the natural environment. Plants such as viburnums are an excellent choice. They not only provide seeds that are available in the late winter, but also shelter.

In Hong Kong, the government has already started to prevent the spread of bird flu by telling citizens that wild pigeon droppings may help spread harmful germs, and that avoiding feeding them is the best way to minimize their congregation. Therefore any wild bird feeders in common areas at public rental housing estates and markets will be served a fine without any prior warnings.

Viburnums are the most attractive, versatile, adaptable shrubs for any landscape. They can be used as hedges or screens and in mixed perennial/shrub borders. They can also stand alone as specimen plants. They usually take the form of shrubs, but some species can become small ornamental trees. They range in size from the Dwarf American Cranberrybush at 2 feet tall by 2 feet wide, to the Siebold at over 15 feet tall. Viburnums are plants with year round interest. All Viburnums have profuse white to pink flowers in the spring. They have large, attractive and often textured leaves. Some viburnums have wonderfully fragrant flowers that are produced in snowball- shaped clusters in April. Their flower clusters can consist of pink buds, which develop into white flowers. Some fruits are red and turn black with age. Leaves are glossy, dark green and turn a burgundy color in the fall. Midsummer berries are an important food source for birds.Viburnums provide birds with feed and shelter in a natural manner. Birds will not feed in an area that masses birds and bird droppings. This is a more sanitary way to feed birds than with a bird feeder. Additionally you never forget to refill the viburnums as each year there will be a new crop of berries. Viburnums have colorful red to purple leaves. Some viburnums can become medium-size trees, especially if they are pruned. Viburnums excel as specimen plants or as anchors in mixed borders. You won't find a more versatile group of shrubs for hedges or for massing in groups, since viburnums hold their own in every season. Some viburnums, such as Prague viburnum 'Pragense', are evergreen. Others, such as leatherleaf viburnum, are semi-evergreen in colder climates, losing their leaves when temperatures dip below 10 degrees. The best feature of Viburnums is their adaptability. While they would prefer full sun and moderately watered, well-drained rich soils, they will grow very well in part shade in alkaline, clay soils. Diseases and pests rarely attack them. My kids have run over them with brush hogs and they survived. Their fibrous root system makes them transplant easily. If you are searching for a good-looking hardy shrub consider one of the many members of the Viburnum family.

Viburnums have long been popular garden plants, celebrated for their white, often fragrant spring flowers and their fall color. But it's the Asian viburnums that have so far ruled the roost. Perhaps the most widely appreciated viburnums are the Burkwood viburnum (Viburnum x burkwoodii), and the Korean spice viburnum (V. carlesii), both of which fill the air with an enchanting clove-like aroma in mid-spring. Also popular is the doublefile viburnum (V. plicatum f. tomentosum), valued for its layered habit, fall foliage, and clusters of red fruits. Viburnum acerifolium (Maple-leafed viburnum) Although I wouldn't garden without any of these, I have a special fondness for several of our very garden-worthy native viburnums. They may not provide the enticing flower fragrance of their Asian cousins, but I love them nonetheless--not only for their marvelous fall foliage color (championed by Darke) but also for their copious fruit displays, which attract birds to my garden in the fall and winter months. In addition, several are useful to today's water-wise gardeners or for tough urban conditions. They require only corrective pruning, and none commonly suffer from pests or diseases. Viburnums are considered moist woodland plants. In nature they are found along steam banks from Long Island to Florida. When you come to our 5275 West Swamp Rd. location ask us to show some in their native habitat that we found along our stream bank. These plants perform well under normal landscape conditions. I especially like the floral display in the spring and these viburnums that bear fruit in the fall. Winterthur has great red leaves and abundant fruit in the fall. This cultivar needs a cross pollinator such as viburnum nudum. Native Americans used Viburnum dentatum (arrowwood viburnum) for arrow shafts. There stems are long and strait. This plant will grow in places many plants struggle. So if you have had trouble with plants in a harsh location try this cultivar. Viburnums We raise over 12 types of Viburnums on our farms from seedlings to 5' shrubs. If you have poor soils due to compacting from construction, try viburnums. Being rugged and hardy, they perform where other plants fail. American Cranberry Bush KoreanSpice Blackhaw ArrowwoodViburnum Chicago Luster Dawn Summer Snowflake Shasta Winterthur Blue Muffin Burkwood Erie Tea Judd Korean Spice Praque Siebold You can see more of Bill's writing and tips at his web site http://www.seedlingsrus.com

Doctor Bill piles it high and deep with this unusal method to safeguard birds and man from the spread of bird flu. The simple solution is cheap and effective.

Tips If Traveling To An Area With Bird Flu

Considering the areas most impacted by bird flu are in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, it is advisable to stay clear of these regions. However, circumstances may arise that necessitates travel. In which case, you need to know how to protect yourself in these areas from contracting bird flu.

In general, basic hygiene can prevent a wide array of infectious diseases. For this reason, frequent hand washing is advised to eliminate bacteria and viral components from one?s hands.

More specifically, travelers should avoid any contact with poultry, including those held for agricultural use or wild birds. Any area potentially contaminated with bird feces should also be avoided. Currently, bird flu is only being transmitted from poultry to humans and not from human contact; therefore, you should assume every bird you see is potentially infected, as that very well may be the case.

You should also take special care not to ingest undercooked poultry, poultry products, or dishes made with poultry blood, as the virus may still be active in such dishes.

You also need to avoid contact with sick people or people that are exposed to poultry. This may seem excessive, but the bird flu virus is expected to mutate and be transmitted through human contact. If this were to occur, you could easily catch the disease from someone else. It is better to be cautious and alive than the alternative. Likewise, you may also consider avoiding crowds, as densely populated areas are an ideal breeding ground to spread disease.

If, during your travels, you become severely ill, you may contact a United States Embassy for guidance in seeking treatment and notifying family and friends. Depending on your location, medical care may be limited. Use caution in securing treatment.

Special concern has been shown in visiting Singapore and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve; however, it has been made very clear that Singapore is free from bird flu. Two entities, AVA and NParks, have continual surveillance projects of the reserve and take blood samples from the birds on a regular basis to ensure infection has not occurred. On the same token, it is unlikely a human would become infected by a wild bird, as direct handling is almost impossible. Most of the cases reported have been contracted from chickens or domestic birds. The primary way a human would be infected from a wild bird is through contact with bodily secretions and feces.

Sarah K. Jenkins 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.

Rapid Early Detection of H5N1 Avian Flu/SARS/Bird Flu by AgroMicron

Identifying carriers of H5N1 Avian Flu (AKA SARS or Bird Flu) before they board planes, enter countries and infect others is a top priority for many countries and individuals, we are all fearful of a major epidemic.

One company that is not only afraid of what could be but is also trying to do something about it is AgroMicron who has been developing several Rapid Early Detection (RED) systems to screen and identify carriers in the most effective way.

AgroMicron's unique research and development comes from using actual samples collected from infect birds found in Hong Kong, ensuring that their systems not only work in theory but they work in practice also.

Currently AgroMicron is in the final stages of development and even though they would love to release their Rapid Early Detection (RED) systems now as the demand from government institutions and even several airlines is very high they want to make 100% sure that their system works without fault. "We want to make it a seamless integration into the airports and checkpoints and at the same time we need to make sure we correctly identify each and every person's condition in the shortest period of time." was a comment made by Gary Lloyd, Senior Advisor for AgroMicron during a recent interview.

That's something that has the airlines interested as they see this as not only a need but a valuable marketing tool, as who wants to board a plane if there is a possibility that you might contract H5N1 Avian Flu (AKA SARS or Bird Flu) during the flight. The goal of AgroMicron to make the Rapid Early Detection (RED) test reasonably simple and not to invasive for the people ready to board an aircraft In fact if you have flown in or out of Asia in the last few months you might have already been part of the pilot testing program that is going on at various airports in Asia.

At the heart of AgroMicron's Rapid Early Detection (RED) systems for H5N1 Avian Flu (AKA SARS or Bird Flu) is something that anyone can appreciate, and that is simplification. "If we can create a system that anyone can use and understand it will further enable that the system can achieve a 100% detection rate. We are anticipating that our tests will ensure a wide spread deployment within our goals of 2006." say AgroMicron's CEO Richard Venturini. We are all awaiting the outcome of the pilot tests and at the same time we look forward to some of the other projects that AgroMicron has undertaken as each and every one of them are adding great value to the world we live in. To learn more about AgroMicron's Rapid Early Detection (RED) systems please visit: http://www.agromicron.com/Rapid-Early-Detection/ and to get more corporate information you can visit their website located at http://www.agromicron.com

Millions of chickens culled, loss of life and fear have all be a result H5N1 Avian Flu/SARS/Bird and now thanks to AgroMicron maybe there is some light at the end of this tunnel.

How To Give Yourself And Family The Best Protection From Flu and Bird Flu

The flu has been an irritant for some time. However, at one time it actually caused worldwide devastation, killing millions of people. Although this type of effect has not been felt from the flu for many years, with the onset of bird flu this is becoming a very real possibility. With this being a concern, people should arm themselves to the full extent to avoid this from occurring.

There are several common-sense precautionary measures that can be taken to protect yourself and your family against being infected by this potentially deadly virus.

The first is to avoid places where the bird flu virus already runs rampant. As of now, the bird flu outbreak is primarily in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Although it is expected to spread worldwide, you should not save it the trouble by traveling where you can become infected more easily. If you must travel to these areas, avoid poultry farms or other high risk areas. On the same note, try to avoid contact with sick people. Simply distancing yourself and your family from the disease can be one of the most effective preventive measures taken.

If you come in contact with sick people, or even as a general rule of thumb, wash your hands often, with antibacterial soap, and practice good hygiene in general. The regular flu virus is spread by saliva and mucus being transmitted to others. If someone coughs in your face, this may not be able to be avoided; however, if you touch something that is contaminated, you will just as likely become ill - unless you wash the virus away before it makes its way into your body.

Another precaution you should take in preventing the infection of bird flu is to properly handle and cook all poultry. While the jury seems to be out on whether or not there are cases of the flu due to undercooked poultry, reliable sources are reporting there have been. Even a suspicion should be enough to encourage certain precautions, not to mention proper handling is just a good practice. Likewise, properly clean all surfaces that have come in contact with raw meat and wash hands after handling.

Should you or a family member become ill, you should seek medical advice. There are medications that can be administered that lessen the impact of many flu strains, but they are only effective if given early in the disease. For this reason, treatment must be sought immediately.

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.

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.

Key Differences Between Bird Flu And Other Flu Types

There are three types of influenza viruses: A, B, and C. Of these, type A is further classified into subtypes, H and N. Type A affects people and numerous animals, while B and C typically affect humans only. Each type varies in severity, with A being the most dangerous, then B, and C being the least severe.

Bird flu is of the A type of influenza virus, one of more severe types. While several subtypes and strains exist, H5N1 is the most widely known and feared form of bird flu.

One of the primary differences of bird flu and the other types of the influenza virus is the way it is transmitted. Other strains of the flu virus, common among humans, are passed from human to human through saliva and mucus. This is done through sneezing, coughing, or breathing on or near someone. H5N1, on the other hand, is only transmitted from poultry to humans, and is done so through direct contact with the animals or their feces.

Another difference between the regular flu virus and H5N1 is the availability of a vaccine. The regular flu has been an irritant to people for some time. As a result, steps were taken long ago to challenge the virus and lessen the impact it had on people. Every year, people go in droves to receive a flu vaccine to avoid the virus. However, a vaccine has not been developed for the mutated form of bird flu that is to come. The reason for this is multifaceted. One reason is the lengthy development process. H5N1 has been a serious threat to humans for less than two years, since the outbreak of the virus began in Vietnam in January of 2004. Therefore, there has not been significant time to research and create a vaccine for the virus. Also, little purpose lies in creating a vaccine for the current strain of H5N1, as the real threat will come when the virus mutates. A vaccine that is developed now will be useless when mutation occurs, at which point a vaccine will really be needed. So, the virus must first be allowed to mutate and only then can an effective vaccine be developed.

The other variation between bird flu and other flu strains is the severity of the symptoms. While symptoms of sneezing, coughing, sore throat and fever are similar, the symptoms easily become severe in cases of bird flu.

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 read more of her articles.