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 »
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 »
Avian influenza (Avian flu and Bird flu) is an infectious disease (influenza) of birds caused by different subtypes of influenza A virus. Transmission is through direct contact with the infected birds’ discharges from like feces and respiratory secretions.
Contrary to some people’s perception, avian flu does not pose food safety risks. There is a low risk in acquiring avian influenza from eating poultry products, like meat and eggs. Direct contact with the infected birds remains to be the main risk factor in disease transmission.
Proper handling is important when in direct contact with birds suspected of having avian flu since it causes serious illness and death in humans. When not prevented, cases of bird flu may cause epidemics (even pandemic) and chicken deaths which will greatly affect the poultry business.
Avian influenza (Avian flu and Bird flu) is an infectious disease (influenza) of birds caused by different subtypes of influenza A virus. Transmission is through direct contact with the infected birds’ discharges from like feces and respiratory secretions.
Contrary to some people’s perception, avian flu does not pose food safety risks. There is a low risk in acquiring avian influenza from eating poultry products, like meat and eggs. Direct contact with the infected birds remains to be the main risk factor in disease transmission.
Proper handling is important when in direct contact with birds suspected of having avian flu since it causes serious illness and death in humans. When not prevented, cases of bird flu may cause epidemics (even pandemic) and chicken deaths which will greatly affect the poultry business.
Research from the University of Melbourne has discovered that boosting T-cell immunity can bolster the immune system enough to counter infection by the deadly H5N1(bird flu) flu virus strain. This comes as a well needed boost to the growing problem with the said virus which is considered to be one of the new generation super-bugs for it has the ability to jumo the species barrier. The problem arises when wild fowl who carry many strains of the flu virus but have ample immunity comes into contact with domesticated poultry and other birds. Domesticated birds have no such immunity, being grown totally in farms without the actions of natural selection at play. Once infected, like humans, exhibit symptoms of the flu which, can get in contact with people who also have no built-in immunity to the virus. T-cells are the super assassins of the human immune system and boosting them may allow the body to react promptly enough to stem the effects of the virus. The results of their research is well timed due to fears by epidemiologists that another flu-pandemic is underway with the recurrent surfacing of the virus in many of Asia’s domesticated fowl population.
Research from the University of Melbourne has discovered that boosting T-cell immunity can bolster the immune system enough to counter infection by the deadly H5N1(bird flu) flu virus strain. This comes as a well needed boost to the growing problem with the said virus which is considered to be one of the new generation super-bugs for it has the ability to jumo the species barrier. The problem arises when wild fowl who carry many strains of the flu virus but have ample immunity comes into contact with domesticated poultry and other birds. Domesticated birds have no such immunity, being grown totally in farms without the actions of natural selection at play. Once infected, like humans, exhibit symptoms of the flu which, can get in contact with people who also have no built-in immunity to the virus. T-cells are the super assassins of the human immune system and boosting them may allow the body to react promptly enough to stem the effects of the virus. The results of their research is well timed due to fears by epidemiologists that another flu-pandemic is underway with the recurrent surfacing of the virus in many of Asia’s domesticated fowl population.
Avian flu or the H5N1 virus that causes it has been known for a long time and is one of the nastiest types of viruses around. They are a rare form of virus that exists in birds but have a nasty ability to jump species and mutating as needed to adapt to a new host. The disease has claimed hundreds of lives(not counting the ones that go undocumented) and total cure still has to be developed or some wonder vaccine that would eradicate it at its source, the birds. The fact that some species of birds migrate makes tracking and monitoring ever so difficult but vaccines are now available to battle the several variants of the disease, the problem is getting it in enough quantities to inoculate everybody and guess what the next question is, cost!
Experts suggest a cheap alternative if the vaccine is out of reach, the lowly face mask!
Avian flu or the H5N1 virus that causes it has been known for a long time and is one of the nastiest types of viruses around. They are a rare form of virus that exists in birds but have a nasty ability to jump species and mutating as needed to adapt to a new host. The disease has claimed hundreds of lives(not counting the ones that go undocumented) and total cure still has to be developed or some wonder vaccine that would eradicate it at its source, the birds. The fact that some species of birds migrate makes tracking and monitoring ever so difficult but vaccines are now available to battle the several variants of the disease, the problem is getting it in enough quantities to inoculate everybody and guess what the next question is, cost! Experts suggest a cheap alternative if the vaccine is out of reach, the lowly face mask!
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.
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.