Bird Flu and the Threat Posed by it : Fine Generics

Bird Flu and the Threat Posed by it
An outbreak of avian flu commonly called as bird flu is reported by many Asian countries in their domestic and wild bird populations...

An outbreak of avian flu commonly called as bird flu is reported by many Asian countries in their domestic and wild bird populations. Bird flu is generally caused by the influenza A viruses which is also called avian flu influenza, which are chiefly present in birds and can infect humans. The risk of infection is generally low in humans but there are reports of confirmed cases of human infection since 1997.

Avian influenza virus that primarily attack birds can be genetically distinguished from other influenza viruses that usually infect humans. Avian influenza viruses are of different subtypes and the genetic features of the virus and the severity of the illness they cause in poultry can categories them as "low pathogenic "and "highly pathogenic".

In most cases, avian influenza virus infects humans when people make direct contact with infected poultry, their feces or contaminated surfaces. It gets transmitted to the domesticated birds when they are allowed to take infected water and feed. Till date, there is no report of person-to-person transmission but influenza A virus have the potential to change to other form and can get easy access to cause person-to-person transmission.

The various symptoms of avian influenza in humans are fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, eye infections, pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases, and other severe and life-threatening complications. The fatality of the infection will depend mostly on the state of the immune system of an infected person, and the type of virus subtype and the strain.

In fact, there is no specific anti-avian influenza vaccine for humans, but the doctor's mostly prescribed oseltamivir phosphate, with the brand name Tamiflu to treat avian influenza. It should be taken within 2 days of the onset of the flu symptoms, it restricts the virus to enter and spread inside the body.

Another antiviral drug approved for the treatment of influenza A infection in adult is amantadine which is often sold as Symmetrel. It is bit cheaper than Tamiflu and even used to treat Parkinson's disease and drug induced extra pyramidal syndromes. Amantadine is meant only for humans but during the recent flu outbreak, China has misused amantadine by using it in poultry farming in an attempt to protect bird flu which have made the H5N1 strain in China and southeast Asia resistant to amantadine.

Relenza is another antiviral drug which is effective in treating influenza. It is available in the form of inhaler and it attacks influenza virus and protect it from spreading inside the body. Relenza is not for infants and it may cause some side effects like breathing problem or obstructive pulmonary disease. So, consult your doctor before using relenza at your own and ask him whether you are suitable to use it or not.

Another effective antiviral drug is rimantadine; it is available only through doctor's prescription and is affective in treating infection caused by influenza A virus. It is harmful to the fetus and can cause difficulty in sleeping, concentrating, dizziness, headache, nervousness, weakness, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting especially to older people and adults.

With continuous report of bird flu throughout the world, more effective antiviral medicine are needed to check the outbreak of the flu, and it needs more research work and thorough study by the health experts.