Archive for the ‘Outbreaks’ Category
As said and debated, the new flu strain is quite similar to most strains of the famed flu virus that is spread from person to person right after it jumps species from the zero host animal, first we had avian flu then swine, both of which jumped the species barrier which normally prevented cross species jumps. This trait of the new strains alarmed scientists for never in history has such cases occurred in modern times.
The Avian Flu is almost on the treatable stage but with the coming of the new strain, a more general vaccine may be needed to handle all of the flu strains, for the new strain is a combination of H5N1, H1N1 and the human flu virus which has the ability to mutate. Another alarming trait of the virus is that a case of reverse infection has already been found in New Zealand, a case of a human host getting a swine sick with the flu. The cross contamination of the virus is the bad thing. Flu can be weathered out with proper treatment and monitoring but for a strain that can come and go as it pleases, it truly is an alarming development.
With the convenience of modern travel, planes flying off to distant countries in a few hours, the new scourge of flu more commonly referred to as the “Swine Flu” has reached full spread with cases reported in almost all corners of the world. Mexico is ground zero and from its famous beaches, whole flights have been infected taking the virus all over the globe. From New Zealand, Australia, China and many other continents the virus has spread with some deaths reported. The severity of the cases have been quite blown out of proportion, maybe a result of the H5N1 strain which scared the hell out of everyone but as with any flu strain simple precautions go along way to help protect people from the spread of the disease. Read the rest of this entry »
The scare brought about by the new and rising threat from the new and improved H1N1 Swine Flu Virus has scientists clamoring for an immediate cure with the H5N1 still fresh on their minds. The H1N1 strain is still part of the flu family but with a very dangerous twist, it is a combination of the H1N1(swine), H5N1(Avian) and the Human Flu virus that like the other strains is transmittable and can be transmitted from species to species. From animal species it jumps easily to humans and that cross-species jumping trait is a very dangerous combination. Read the rest of this entry »
Image Source: www.ilri.org
The strain of bird flu that has infected people in Asia and the Middle East recently is called H5N1. H5N1 is one of the
strains that are dangerous to birds.
The people who became infected with the H5N1 strain of avian flu caught it directly from birds. H5N1 cannot be spread from
person to person. Experts are concerned that the H5N1 strain of bird flu could mutate (change) into a new form that can
spread from person to person. This has happened in past flu outbreaks and has caused what is known as a pandemic. The
symptoms of bird flu in people tend to be similar to the typical flu: fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches. But this flu
can also lead to eye infections, pneumonia, and severe coughing and breathing problems. Doctors hope that certain antiviral
medications will help keep the flu from spreading if it becomes contagious to humans. These medications can’t cure bird flu,
but they can make the symptoms less severe.
According to reports, a 16-month-old baby boy in Bangladesh contracted the bird flu virus. Although the country first got its reported case last February 2007, the bird flu virus became dormant.
The boy from a slum in the capital Dhaka “has survived. He has been quarantined and his condition has improved,” Health Ministry official Mahmudur Rahman told agencies.
Authorities said that although the boy did not live near poultry farms, he might have gotten it from chickens brought by his parents from a farm. In response the Health Ministry has set up isolation units at all public clinics.
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