Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) Particular Concerns

Avian Influenza first occurred in Italy, but nowdays is spread along the world. It is an infectious disease caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. All birds are supposed to be susceptible to the avian influenza, but particularly domestic poultry.

Recombined with the human influenza viruses form a totally new influenza virus to which people do not have protection that spreads in the population and that causes serious illness and death in humans. Bird Flu is an infectious disease of birds that can also affect people. It can present mild or severe forms of illness.

The only subtype that can cause severe illness to people is Influenza A /H5N1 virus, initially it affects chickens, ducks and other birds by the process of mutation they can become highly pathogenic. If the bird flu virus recombines with a human flu virus and mutate it may become possible the transmission from human to human as happened in Asia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia Thailand, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Eygpt, China, and Iraq where people died.

Bird flu affected Australia in 1997 but, was eradicated. Water birds are supposed to carry the avian influenza type A virus inside their intestines and to distribute it in the environment through bird faeces. In highly contagious forms results in severe epidemics and rapid death. In Hong-Kong it has been declared pandemic.

H5N1is considered to be dangerous because it mutates rapidly and aquires genes from viruses infecting other animal species and human. The more affected were the birds of avian influenza the more dangerous was the infection for human beings, transmited by migratory birds. This could be the start for influenza pandemic.

Symptoms and treatments

Patients usually develop fever, sore throat, cough, severe respiratory distress and viral pneumonia. The people which were affected are of all ages in different states of health. Luckily, there are rapid tests for diagnosing all influenza strains. Antiviral drugs have some limitations, although they are effective in the treatment and prevention of influenza A virus strains. If a new virus subtype occures, it takes some time to produce a new vaccine to be efficient.

The World Health Organization (WHO) makes reports and updates regarding new human cases of infection with bird flu. It is also important to question patients if they had direct or indirect contact with sick chickens or other birds. Not allowing chickens to roam freely, correctly informate the community, advise public not to catch, get near or keep in captivity wild birds are important requirements in order to prevent a catastrophal pandemic.We must wash hands with soap and water before and after handling chicken meat. Cook chicken well, not to let chickens roam freely, do not place chickens, ducks and pigs together in one area.

For more information about bird flu or even about bird flu prevention please review this page http://www.bird-flu-info-center.com/bird-flu-prevention.htm

Can You List Symptoms Of Bird Flu Pandemic?

Bird flu is creating a wide spread pandemic in the South East Asian countries. More so, the possibility of it being spread to other parts of the world cannot be neglected. The virus responsible for more than hundreds of deaths has been detected as the H5N1 virus, a subtype of Influenza-A virus. This has been the most deadly bird flu virus till date, since the bird flu generally doesn't attack human beings.

The reports of the symptoms of the avian flu have been submitted to WHO (World Health Organization) and CDC (Center Disease Control). They are similar to SARS but not completely similar. And the interesting fact is that the symptoms sometimes vary from person to person and its totally different in birds. The onset of the virus attack is mostly ignored. So You need to be extra cautious with it. For it never alarms before an outbreak. It's possible to reach any corner of the world since the migratory birds are main carriers of the pathogen.

Before the virus infests the humans, there is the possibility of it raging the poultry. If you observe any of the following symptoms among the poultry folks, there might be the possibility of the H5N1 virus being in action.

If the attack of the virus is less pathogenic then there will be no visible signs and the attack is not fatal enough. The high pathogenic attack has clear symptoms and is quite destructive:

1. Depression in some of the birds. 2. Cessation in laying eggs. 3. Loss of appetite and nervousness. 4. The combs and wattles turn blue in color due to altercation of blood circulation. 5. Coughing and frequent nasal discharge and diarrhea. 6. Sudden death of a number of them without any signs may also be the symptom of bird flu.

The reports based on the observations of the human beings attacked by bird flu have established that the human symptoms are somewhat similar to normal human flu but the impact is more rigorous. The symptoms of bird flu reported in humans are:

1) Sudden attack of suspicious coughing. Generally, we can trace why we catch a cold and cough when the reasons are like exposure to too much cold or taking lot of ice cream and alike. But, here it won't have such particular reason. 2) Mild fever prolonging for hours. 3) Having soreness of throat. 4) Gradual shift to pneumonia. 5) Feeling moderate or severe malaise and fatigue. 6) Muscle pain. 7) Sometimes, conjunctivitis may also occur. 8) Respiratory problems like difficulty in breathing. 9) Very frequent sneezing with lot of mucous coming out.

If you find some of these symptoms in you, don't waste time and visit a doctor, the sooner you start with the treatment, the faster you relieve! Don't break down if you have positive results. It's easy to treat. Thats why, be extra cautious of these symptoms.

To read more articles on bird flu, bird flu symptoms and bird flu vaccine visit http://www.isitbirdflu.com/

The author writes articles on different topics. To get more bird flu articles visit http://www.isitbirdflu.com/

Find Out What The Symptoms of Bird Flu Are Before It's Too Late!

How frightening it is to think that one disease such as bird flu can cause so must devastation by literally killing thousands of people in a short period of time. Well this of course can all be prevented if you are able to read all the bird flu symptoms before it's too late. In this article you will learn exactly how what symptoms are associated with bird flu and how you can notice them early enough to save a person's life.

Bird Flu Symptom One: Muscle Aches

Muscle aches are usually the first signs that a person may have bird flu, however it's usually impossible to tell whether or not the muscle aches you are having are in fact a symptom related to bird flu. Here's how you can tell. First of all ask yourself it it unusual that you should be having muscle aches at this point in time? Have you done any exercise lately? If you haven't and there is no possible reason why you be having muscle aches, then there is a chance that it is in fact a bird flu symptom and you should consult a doctor immediately just to be safe.

Bird Flu Symptom Two: Sore Throat

A sore throat is another symptom associated with bird flu. Generally it isn't too painful in the immediate stages but as time progresses you will find that the intensity will increase to about the time when a fever starts to set in, which of course takes us to our next bird flu symptom...

Symptom Number Three: Fever

At this point in time, you have worked out that you are having unusual muscle aches, your throat is sore and now finally you have picked up a fever, it's time to get to a hospital quickly. Even if you don't have bird flu, you still may have something just as bad and therefore you need immediate treatment. The doctor's can usually tell whether you have contracted bird flu or not within minutes. Generally a cough is also begins to start around the time of the fever and will again intensify as time goes by.

It's important to note that the first question you should ask yourself is, have I or the person showing bird flu symptoms eaten any poultry such as chicken or duck lately. Your doctor will ask you this question and also how long ago it actually was before you last consumed a meal with some sort of poultry product.

Stay alert and always remember that no matter what, it's always better to be safe than sorry!

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 http://www.BirdFluReview.com/BirdFlu

Are We Ready For Next Asia Bird Flu?

The global health community is simmering in discontent. They are in a dilemma. They are unable to find a proper medication for a simple disease like bird flu. They crossed the moon. They intend to beat the stars. But the simple-looking disease, the bird-flu is causing them much concern. The survival chances of a person afflicted with this disease are less than 50%.

Next to terrorists, it is the hotly debated and discussed topic in the USA administration. There is a rare unanimity among the contending forces world over as to the damaging consequences this pandemic is likely to cause. In the Asian continent, about ten countries have experienced the bitter results of the attack of this disease in minor and major proportions.

From the position of anonymity, it is assuming a status of world importance. The deaths due to the attack of this disease have been relatively small so far. But the coming events, they say cast the shadows before.

Even the apolitical officials of the World Health Organization are the greatly worried. It is estimated by them that the world has to go through the bad influence of pandemic flu once in 30-40 years and the time is ripe now.

They are aware that something tangible needs to be done but how to do it and what to do, they are not aware about.

Many Asian countries including China and India have had the initial taste of the bird flu. Hong Kong had a few deaths on account of this bird flu but they answered it by culling the bird population ruthlessly. The last influenza pandemic that originated in Hong Kong in 1969 took the toll of 34,000 lives in the United States. In the Asian Region, this influenza did the worst job.

The viral sub type of the disease is still in circulation. The most recent beating influenza pandemics wave was felt in 1968 and its influence continued unabated for over a year. It is known as Hong Kong Flu and it was initially detected in China. It worked with full fury in Hong Kong. Put together, it claimed between one to four million lives. It then reached Canada, United Kingdom and United States, particularly California.

The nature, movements and the working of this virus is mysterious. So far, human beings suffered on account of the direct contact with the infected animals and their secretion. But the virus evolves constantly and mutates to inflict punishments on the birds, animals and human beings from different types of attacks.

So, where lies the solution? No one knows for certain. It is darkness of the cave!

Many Bird Flu articles are available at Asia Bird Flu & http://www.isitbirdflu.com/

Many Bird Flu articles are available at http://www.isitbirdflu.com/ for Asia Bird Flu.

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

Bird Flu: H5N1 Influenza Status Briefing Natural Protection

The Bird Flu has a defined area of infection and has found a host that has kept it alive for millenniums. Pigs are in the mutation chain as the virus transitions to people. The next bird flu step could be an overnite pandemic or a wimpering gasp of disappearance.

The virus H5N1, has a few similarities with the Spanish flu of 1918 that resulted in one of the largest pandemics in the last 200 years. Both of these contagious outbreaks cause high fever, lower respiratory tract failure symptoms, prostration, myalgias, and a postviral weakness that could last up to 6 weeks.

Twenty-four hour access channels have warned of a coming pandemic that may arrive in the form of H5N1 avian influenza, more commonly referred to as ?bird flu?. The market for poultry products has decreased internationally because of a lack of consumer confidence in a safe supply.

In Eastern Asian countries entire flocks of chickens have been destroyed because of an outbreak that easily spreads from bird to bird, infecting the entire flock.

Proactive Steps

Current laboratory research currently indicates existing flu prescriptions should be an active and readily available treatment should the ?bird flu? H5N1 make its presence felt. While this is good news, there is a second wave effect that has historically been seen in such a widespread influenza outbreak. The second wave may occur when the flu strain alters just enough to render existing medications ineffective.

Knowledge is a primary key in the battle of any communicable disease. Understanding symptoms can provide both peace of mind as well as the information you need to know should a doctor?s visit be required.

Defining Bird Flu

Like the more common flu strains, ?bird flu? may include fever, sore throat, muscle aches and eye infections. However, ?bird flu? may also include pronounced lethargy, acute breathing difficulties and chest pain. In more extreme cases pneumonia may make an appearance as well as potential organ failure.

This virulent strain of flu virus has, to date, been spread primarily through poultry and water fowl. The limited human fatalities that have been reported have all been a result of close interaction with infected birds.

The incubation period for humans who do contract ?bird flu? may be as few as two days or as many as 17.

Industry Protection

Chicken farmers are taking radical steps to keep their investment safe. Disinfectant sprays are beginning to be applied and sterile clothing is becoming common when entering poultry facilities. Symptoms that include bird inactivity and decreased egg production are routinely reviewed and monitored.

What If?

Members of the World Health Organization have worked to develop a plan that could be implemented on a global scale to address both current issues as well as those that may be forthcoming in the event of a ?bird flu? pandemic. Steps are currently being taken to address the issues surrounding ?bird flu? and partner countries are gaining assistance from the findings of the World Health Organization.

Flu Shot

It is unclear if the annual flu shot will assist in the reduction of ?bird flu? cases should a pandemic occur. However, there is evidence to suggest they it may in fact do so.

It may be that ?bird flu? will never reach epidemic proportions, but knowing what it is and what it is capable of doing is a help in preparing for a flu strain that could join the ranks of some of the world?s greatest viral killers.

The best prevention of the bird flu is a strong immune system. Exercise the body and the lungs. Look for a natural antiviral supplement. While modern scientist search for a vaccine, we have natural remedies that we can employ. Colloidal silver is known to kill bacteria and virus.

James Zeller is the new "Euell Gibbons" for natural supplements. For more information about Bird Flu Protection or his choice for natural immune support for the "50 and Over" Baby Boomers.

Bird Flu To Reach Americas In 6 To 12 Months!

The Bird Flu/Avian Flu, which is already spreading across Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, will make the jump across the Atlantic and arrive in the Americas within a year. This recent information comes from UN Experts recently assigned the task on making sure this disease doesn't spread.

Dr. David Nabarro, the coordinator of the United Nations' efforts to contain the pandemic and prepare for its possible jump to humans, said he believes the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus will make the leap across the Atlantic between six months and one year from now. Nabarro predicted the leap would take place in two stages. It will probably be carried by wild birds from West Africa to the Arctic, then carried south to North and South America, he said. How will the virus spread from birds? Cats!

Cats are believed to be vulnerable to bird flu because they prey on birds. If you have cats, oudoor cats to be precise, you may want to think about keeping them in the house from now on. Health officials have feared for some time now that the avian disease will mutate into a form that can jump between humans, putting millions of people in danger. Though much advertising of the drug Tamiflu show's promise in the protection against the Bird Flu, it doesn not cure the H5N1 virus. There is currently no cure for the disease.

As previously mentioned above, the UN team focusing on the bird flu threat is primarily concerned with stopping the spread of the disease. This may be alarming to some seeing that we've all expected the UN and WHO (World Health Organization) to eventually find a cure. Not so! While some research into a cure for the disease has started, stopping the spread of the vius has proven to be the main prority.

Guess I`ll be turning my kitties into house cats!!

Writer, author, publisher, Charles Dumont has always written mostly on current affairs and day to day issues affecting human kind. Lately he's been very passionate due to the launch of his Avian Bird Flu blog. http://avian-bird-flu-crisis.blogspot.com

How Bird Flu Respirator's Should Be Used

There are two kinds of bird flu wear protection that a person who will come into contact with infected poultry or just poultry or an infected person. The person should consider wearing either a bird flu respirator or a bird flu mask.

A bird flu masks only helps prevent particles or droplets to be discharged in the environment the wearer is in. The mask is not generally used to filter efficiently or to seal the face tightly. A bird flu respirator is what is considered helpful in reducing the wearer's chances of exposure to airborne particles such as bird flu. A bird flu mask is often confused like a bird flu respirator because both look alike.

The bird flu mask or respirator should be used by people who think they will come in contact with persons or birds infected with the H5N1 strain. The people who use this should just consider it to be one way of being hygienic way of prevention.

A patient who thinks he or she has been feeling symptoms and knows has been in contact with infected birds should wear a bird flu mask as well. People who often travel a lot, especially to those infected places should also consider bringing a bird flu respirator.

If a bird flu respirator is not present, the bird flu mask will have to do. The mask or the respirator should also be fitted in properly to make it work. However, wearing the mask is still not a guaranteed way you won't contact the viral disease.

The only time a person working closely with infected birds or persons or just birds is when they are away from the contaminated or possible contaminated area. Then after removing the equipment, remember to thoroughly wash your hands. Then dispose the equipment immediately after going on a safer area. The effectiveness of the respirator last only for 8 hours.

When buying the bird flu mask or respirator, it always has directions or instructions how to properly use it. Always remember when transporting the equipment to protect it from any kind of damage.

The bird flu respirator should be sealing the face very tightly. If the breathing becomes difficult, the respirator might have been damaged. If it is, go to a safe place and change the respirator.

The right way to wear it to know how effective it is, is to fit it snuggly in the face, the metal strip should be atop and the colored part outside. The mask should be firmly placed by positioning the strings right. The metallic strip should be molded at the nose's bridge.

A bird flu mask or respirator is only a part to help prevent the further damaging of implications of bird flu. It is not a sure fire way to prevent the outbreak, but it is a way to reduce the potential damage.

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.

The truth about bird flu

There has been much written about the threat of a bird flu pandemic. Much of it is either alarmist or inaccurate. However the truth is not a great deal more digestible.

First I will examine the facts as they stand. The virus in this case has been labelled H5N1 and it is a fairly close relation to the virus H1N1 which caused the "Spanish" flu pandemic in 1918/19. That outbreak followed the Great War (aka World War I) and killed many more than that war itself. Most estimates of the death toll of H1N1 range from 50 million to 100 million!

H5N1 is currently decimating bird stocks around the world and is spreading alarmingly with recent outbreaks in Turkey, Cyprus and now Africa and Italy. In its current form H5N1 is not a great threat to mankind and those who have become infected with the virus have been in close contact with infected birds. But we must not underestimate or ignore the human misery caused by those who have died through infection and the loss to livelihood caused by the destruction of avian farming stocks.

So what is all the fuss about? Simply that viruses tend to evolve and, over time, it is likely that H5N1 will "learn" to infect humans far more easily. Viruses can learn in a variety of ways. One way is through normal evolution and they evolve far quicker than we do - indeed some strains of H5N1 are already showing resistance to Tamiflu - the current antiviral of choice. A quicker route is if the virus should find itself inhabiting the same body as a human flu virus - perhaps in a human being or perhaps in a pig - among other possibilities. When this happens the viruses often swap information.

The consensus of opinion among the great and the good of the scientific community is that it is only a matter of time before H5N1 becomes capable of human-to-human transmission - that it is inevitable!

Once that happens the pandemic begins.

But even then a great deal of uncertainty exists. There are two key statistics when it comes to a virus rather as there are two key statistics when it comes to marketing a web site. In the case of the web site the first key statistic is how many people reading your banner ad/your email promo click through to your web site. The second is how may of those actually buy.

In the case of the virus it is far more morbid. The two key statistics are the infection rate and the mortality rate.

There have been three recognised pandemics in the last 100 years. All three had infection rates of around 25%. The 1918/19 pandemic also had a mortality rate of between 2.5% - 5% which is why it was so deadly. The pandemics of 1957/58 and 1968/69 had mortality rates of around 0.37%.

These statistics are really the source of all the hype and concern because currently H5N1 is killing around 50% of those it infects!

Hence we get claims that 1.5 billion (sic) people will die. The mathematics is simple. We assume an infection rate of 50%, and some say "Spanish" flu infected 50% of people, and we apply the current mortality rate of 50% to the current world population in excess of 6 billion people. Result: one in four dies.

But this over looks a key point. Usually a virus that mutates to become capable of human-to-human transmission becomes much less deadly in the process.

The bottom line - we simply do not know what we might face.

The key question - how much time and money do we spend on a threat which may be a complete damp squib or may decimate human population?

John Piper is a freelance researcher and writer with four books under his belt. He specialises in stock markets and health. Feel free to contact the author at john@ttttt.freeserve.co.uk with any comments on this article or visit http://www.virusalert1.com for John's Book on bird flu.

Preparing Your Business for a Bird Flu Pandemic

How would your business operate if half your work force were out sick? Would your business continue to function if several of your top key employees died? How many employees are cross-trained in other positions?

A recent study showed the threat that most preoccupies the world's business leaders is a global influenza pandemic. This is why you need to start asking these questions now so your business can be prepared for a possible bird flu pandemic. A bird flu pandemic will not discriminate. Everyone from the janitor to the CEO would be affected. Worst-case scenario could leave millions sick and any where from 5 million to 1.5 billion people dead around the world.

The World Bank, which has estimated that a bird flu pandemic lasting a year, could cost the global economy up to $800 billion. The economic toll on the world economy will be catastrophic. There would be major economic losses due to worker absences and interruptions in supply and delivery chains. Even a "mild" pandemic would have lasting effects on your business. Because a global flu pandemic is such a threat, current business and disaster response plans may not be adequate to deal with it. What steps should you start to take now to prepare?

As with any worst-case scenario you should be aware of the risks and have a contingency plan in place before you need it. By planning now you will help keep your business running, your employees safe and head off possible legal issues. Some of the steps you may want to consider are:

Establish a pandemic coordinator or team with responsibilities for preparedness and response planning. Provide current avian influenza information to all employees. Identify and make available information on community resources.

Identify key essential areas and current employees responsible. Cross-train other employees in those areas so they are able to fill in for sick employees. Have written documentation for those employees filling in for others.

Identify key suppliers and alternative sources for critical materials and supplies. Increase raw material inventories to keep production going for several months. Plan for "just in time" inventory shortages. Products and inventory from Asian countries may not be available if Asian factories are shut down due to illness.

Play "what if?" What if Joe in accounting was out sick for a month? Or Sam in IT died? Who could fill in, how would the business run? It is estimated that between 30-60% of the workforce will be out sick.

Maintain a healthy work environment. Encourage hand washing, offer hand sanitizers, consider quality air purifiers. Limit face-to-face contact with employees and customers. Limit large group meetings, shared workstations and public events. Limit or eliminate non-essential business travel. Make use of conference calls and video conferencing.

Review employment policies to see if you can require employees to stay home if they are sick. Establish new sick time policies. Check employee agreement clauses for business closure plans, hours of work and position changes. Establish policies and procedures for sending staff home, staff leaving work on their own, unauthorized absences and returning to work. Plan to offer additional sick time pay or wage and salary advances to staff unable to work. Plan for family member illness, community quarantines, school/business and public transportation closures.

Offer telecommuting options to as many employees as possible. Offer flextime and other creative job options.

Back up essential files off site, provide access to a network of key employees.

Establish a communication plan for employees and business contacts. Include key contacts and tracking for employee status. Employees will be hungry for up to date information about their business, jobs and co-workers. Good communication with your employees is essential to avoid rumors, panic and misinformation.

To encourage employees to stock up on food and supplies for an extended home stay, purchase supplies for them in bulk to take advantage of discounts, offer the savings to employees. Or offer them a SAM's Club or Costco membership at no charge.

Taking these steps today will help your business be prepared for a possible bird flu pandemic, survive for the duration and return to business as normal faster than those who are not prepared.

To stay up to date on avian influenza, bird flu and the h5n1 virus visit The Bird Flu Index http://www.birdfluindex.com Find links to bird flu websites, official medical and government sites and full information about how the bird flu could turn into a global influenza pandemic. Search through the article archive for the latest bird flu articles. For the latest bird flu news visit The Pandemic Zone http://pandemiczone.blogspot.com

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.

Bird Flu: Diagnosis

Central to the problem of dealing with bird flu is diagnosis. A number of upper respiratory infections have similar symptoms?at least at the onset of the illness, including the common cold, seasonal influenza, and bird flu. Seasonal flu and bird flu have almost identical symptoms?including fever, cough, malaise (feeling unwell), nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. This is, needless to say, a gigantic problem in accurately diagnosing bird flu?which is critical to beginning appropriate treatment as well as initiating infection control procedures and public health measures.

Currently, accurate testing for bird flu and other vial infections that can cause similar symptoms is difficult and requires specialized testing. This testing is time consuming and only available in specialized reference laboratories, which are few and far between. Fortunately, this may change in the near future.

According to Richard Janeczko, Ph.D., executive vice-president and chief scientific officer, Tm Bioscience, located In Toronto, Canada, is feverishly working to complete the final stage of development of an amazing test?not only for bird flu, but for more than 15 other viral infections (including severe acute respiratory syndrome or SARS), many of which can mimic the symptoms of bird flu (personal communication). (Tm Bioscience is a DNA-based diagnostics company developing a suite of genetic tests. Tm Bioscience?s product pipeline includes tests for genetic disorders, drug metabolism, and infectious diseases.

The test, called the Multiplexed Respiratory Test, discriminates influenza A from influenza B and identifies the H5-subtype of influenza A (bird flu is ?H5N1?) from all other H subtypes. In addition, it can identify almost all the other common?and some uncommon?viruses that cause influenza-like illnesses. This is extremely important in managing patients, communities and economic issues. Other tests have lower clinical sensitivities and specificities which can lead to both false positives and false negatives.

By incorrectly identifying an outbreak as due to H5N1, patients could be treated with anti-virals unnecessarily (thus raising the chances of selecting for drug-resistant strains), unneeded vaccination programs in asymptomatic individuals could be initiated, and damage to local and national economies?through such measures as culling of commercial poultry operations?could occur. Conversely a false-negative test result could lead to catastrophic outcomes, including a pandemic.

The assay utilizes swab specimens taken from the nose and takes less than 5 hours to perform. It was developed for use as a diagnostic tool and for infection control in hospitals. The assay has been slated for expedited review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and TM Bioscience is hoping to have an FDA-cleared test available by the end of January 2006. If this assay delivers what it claims, it will have huge applicability on a global basis and save many lives.

Bradford Frank, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A. The Frank Group. P.O. Box 138 Lakewood, NY 14750 http://www.AvoidBirdFlu.com