Archive for May, 2008
A recent report has confirmed that a father and son in China had been infected with bird flu, wherein the son caught the virus in a poultry market, and the father caught the flu from his son. The 24-year old son died while the 52-year old father survived after being treated and vaccinated in a H5N1 clinical trial. Other family members, colleagues and friends were also treated to make sure the virus does not spread. All the others tested negative for the H5N1 virus, which means the virus does not easily spread through casual contact. Samples of the virus from father and son showed almost identical genetic characteristics.
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Image Source: delivery.superstock.com
It is important to take extra care especially when you are bound for Southeast Asian destinations or any other places in the world which has outbreaks of the bird flu virus. The bird flu virus can kill you. It is not some sickness that can be treated with just an over the counter medicine. When you’re in a foreign country, as much as possible, avoid the rural areas. These are places which have farms. Domesticated fowls are much to be avoided. Open air markets not only offers a great place for bargain but are also where bacteria and virus breed. The best way to fight infections is to wash hands faithfully. Bring with you hand sanitizers or alcohol. Avoid raw eggs. And get yourself a flu shot so as to have that extra layer of protection from sorts of diseases.
Bird flu cases have been recorded in South East Asia, particularly in Indonesia, Thailand Cambodia and Malaysia. In the Philippines, no cases have been recorded so far, but it might not have a clean record for long if smuggling of wild birds from its neighboring countries is not stopped. Smuggling of goods has been rampant in the Philippines, and birds are no exception. Some of these birds are endangered, and despite existing laws that prohibits such practices, implementation of the law has been weak.
The government’s role is not only in providing health care during outbreaks, but also protecting its borders for threats. Protecting wildlife and protecting the citizens for possible flu outbreaks should be a priority to the government.
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The previous articles might sound too paranoid. But the fact is flu spreads fast and easy. Vaccines take time to be developed, manufactured and distributed. Not everyone have access to treatment and proper health care. The virus may mutate with every infection, and a new set of vaccines will have to be developed. Most of the time, the population dismiss a certain case as “it will never happen” until it is already happening.
Prevention is the key. And prevention should not be an individual effort, but a collaborative effort between and among governments, health institutions and citizens. Let us be aware of the developments on the bird flu.
Links:
World Health Organization – Avian Influenza
How to survive bird flu
We reported last time that a possible vaccine is in the works at Purdue; here’s another positive light on the vaccine coming from Vietnam.
The vaccine which is currently being trialled on thirty Military Medical Institute students have gotten good results so far. The vaccine manufacturer, Vabiotech, was given the go signal to try the vaccine on humans after a good show on animal experiments last year.
The vaccine was based on developed monkey kidney cells. Although this may be good for Vietnam, there might be some problems with other countries as World Health Organization representative, Sean Tobin reported:
“Certainly there would be some extra level of scrutiny required, if they were to try and use this vaccine in other countries,” he said.
“But Vabiotech do have a long experience with other kinds of vaccines using this monkey kidney cell technology, they feel, and the government here feels quite confident in those vaccines.”
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