Avian Flu Virus

Is bird flu cause a disaster similar to the Spanish flu of 1918 that killed more than fifty million people in the world?

Bird flu or avian influenza is spreading at an alarming rate and it is estimated that if it continued its flight, it has the potential to cause a major pandemic in the new world. This time, it is estimated that up to 150 million people may die.

Avian influenza is a disease caused by a specific type of avian influenza virus or bird flu. Scientists have discovered that there are fifteen types of avian influenza viruses that affect the bird population. The current outbreak of avian influenza caused by H5N1.

Although the avian flu virus is normally supposed to be affecting the birds, the nature of the influenza virus is that it can mutate and transfer from one species to another. The avian flu virus that was killing the birds is already now affects people too. These people who were affected contacted the disease because they were unhygienic in handling infected poultry.

The H5N1 virus has been found to be highly contagious and can be transmitted to humans through contact with nasal secretions or excretal infected birds. In addition, if bird flu mutates and becomes part of a human flu virus, it will be transmitted easily from person to person. If not detected and treated early, it can become fatal. The deadly strain of avian influenza is very contagious and if it spreads rapidly, it will cause the rapid death of the human species.

This virus was discovered in Hong Kong in 1997. It was spread by infected migratory birds like ducks, swallows and wild ducks to domestic poultry such as chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and may possibly also affect humans. A number of countries have confirmed human deaths from avian influenza and the numbers have been steadily increasing. Apparently, the bird flu virus has infected several hundred people and killing at least one hundred and fifty of them. He also won a number of other countries like Cambodia, mainland China, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.

The deadly H5N1 virus has caused the death or slaughter of two hundred million birds estimated over a range of countries such as Cambodia, China (including Hong Kong), Indonesia, Kazakhstan Democratic Lao People's Republic, Thailand, Malaysia, Mongolia, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Vietnam.

When infected by the pathogenic virus H5N1, birds can develop serious illnesses such as respiratory diseases and they usually die in the same day. Other presenting symptoms are loss of appetite, diarrhea, nervousness and depression and a reduction in production of eggs and feathers ruffled.

Prevention is the best remedy, the precautionary measures initiated by the various countries affected aid in the fight against the worsening of symptoms.

In poultry, once a bird is infected, it must be eliminated immediately and others properly vaccinated. While owners should regularly send birds chosen at random for the nearest laboratory for avian complete check-up, all their employees must be covered when handling poultry so as to avoid direct contact with birds infected.

It is believed that the avian flu virus can not survive in temperatures above 100C. Thus, all poultry products should be cooked thoroughly and correctly. In addition, it is important to wash hands with soap and warm water before preparing food and meals or after coming into contact with raw poultry products.

Although these two drugs, Tamiflu (oseltamivir) and Relenza (zanamivir) are considered effective against avian flu virus deadly if taken within forty-eight of the first onset of symptoms, no drug prevention n has yet been found against the H5N1 virus.

Avian influenza infection in humans depicts common flu symptoms such as cough, February