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Avian Influenza: Biggest menace to humanity
A number of countries in Asia and south-eastern Europe are experiencing outbreaks of avian influenza (bird flu), affecting mainly poultry....

Distribution Source : Finegenerics
Date : Friday, 23 Dec. 2005

A number of countries in Asia and south-eastern Europe are experiencing outbreaks of avian influenza (bird flu), affecting mainly poultry. The H5N1 bird flu virus (a type of influenza not normally associated with human disease) has infected at least 117 people in Asia, killing 60 in the last two years. Mostly young people have died.

What is Bird Flu (Avian Influenza)?
Commonly known as bird flu, Avian Influenza is caused by various influenza viruses. It was first known to have jumped from chickens to humans in 1997. Since 2004 it has ripped through Asian poultry farms, and had a 70% mortality rate in the first 70 people it is known to have infected.

The flu viruses have a large family, each possessing a mere 10 genes encoded in RNA. Bird flu virus is highly transmittable among birds and can be passed on to other bird species as well which includes domesticated birds such as chickens, and ducks, where it can cause flu symptoms.

Avian Influenza Viruses
Only influenza A viruses infect birds, and all known subtypes of influenza A viruses can infect birds. First documented infection of humans with an avian influenza virus occurred in Hong Kong in 1997, when the H5N1 strain caused severe respiratory disease in 18 humans, of whom 6 died. H5N1 is of particular concern for several reasons. Studies at the genetic level further determined that the virus had jumped directly from birds to humans.

According to The World health Organization, the Bird Flu virus is identified as the single biggest menace to humanity.

Bird Flu Facts

• The infection, which was first identified in Italy more than 100 years ago, occurs worldwide.

• Throughout 1983-1984 epidemics, the H5N2 virus initially caused low mortality, but within 6 months became vastly pathogenic, with a mortality approaching 90%. Control of the outbreak required devastation of more than 17 million birds at a cost of nearly $ 65 million. During 1999-2001 epidemics in Italy, the H7N1 virus, initially of low pathogenicity, mutated within 9 months to a highly pathogenic form. More than 13 million birds died or were ruined.

• There are 15 avian influenza virus subtypes circulating in bird populations, humans themselves can serve as the "mixing vessel".

• An occurrence of extremely pathogenic H7N7 avian influenza, which began in the Netherlands in February 2003, caused the death of one veterinarian two months later, and mild infection in 83 other humans. Mild cases of avian influenza H9N2 in children occurred in Hong Kong in 1999 and in December 2003. H9N2 is not highly pathogenic in birds.

• In the 20th century, the great influenza pandemic of 1918-1919, which caused an estimated 40 to 50 million deaths worldwide, was followed by pandemics in 1957-1958 and 1968-1969.

• Recent research shows that viruses similar to the killer 1997 strain reappeared in Hong Kong in 2001 and again in 2002 and 2003.

Symptoms of bird flu include fever and coughing and eventual pneumonia.

Prevention and Treatment for flu
In March 2005, the World Health Organization announced that seven Vietnamese who initially tested negative for bird flu were later found to have carried the virus.

At this time, Prescription antiviral drug Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and a lesser extent zanamivir (Relenza) are the only medications that are effective against avian flu. The drugs can prevent infection up to 80 percent and can treat patients who have had symptoms for 2 days or less.

This news release is entirely a personal opinion. It should not be misconstrued as a medical advice.

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