The strain of the disease to cause so much concern is H5N1. These are simply numbers and letters that represent the subtype of this particular strain, 1 of 144 influenza subtypes. Not only has the virus caused an epidemic in poultry, but it has recently been feared to be leading to a pandemic, or worldwide epidemic, in humans.

While the virus was first identified in humans in 1997, it was not until 2004 that the spread became of great concern. At that time, a major outbreak occurred in Vietnam and Thailand, which spread to ten countries and regions of Asia within weeks and caused the death of 23 people. Within three months the outbreak was contained after the slaughter of tens of millions of potentially infected birds. However, the damage was already done and the virus had spread across Asia to lead to additional outbreaks. Since that time, H5N1 has spread throughout Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, and a low pathogenic form of the virus was identified in Canada on November 19, 2005. Currently, 131 humans have been infected with the virus, resulting in 68 deaths. However, it is feared this number will only increase with the ongoing spread of the disease.

The primary concern surrounding H5N1 is its mutation and ability to infect humans. As of yet, the virus has been spread from poultry to humans, and human to human transmission has only been suspected but not confirmed. Once the virus mutates further, it will easily be passed through humans, causing the disease to spread rapidly. Influenza pandemics, or worldwide epidemics, have caused a great number of deaths in the past, including the Spanish Flu which killed 50 million people in 1918. This is the ultimate concern with the mutation and spread of H5N1.

At this time, the primary cause of infection has been due to the consumption or handling of diseased poultry. Unfortunately, there have been a very few cases that were not easily explained, and therefore, human to human transmission was suspected. However, this has not been confirmed in any of the cases of H5N1 infection.

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According to the World Health Organization, similar Flu Pandemics were experienced three times in the 20th Century. Subsequent research showed that in 1997, a sub-strain developed from the mixture and exchange of genetic materials between Human Influenza and Type A Influenza Viruses. This resulted into the discovery of H5N1 strain of influenza virus which affected 18 and killed 6 in Hongkong. In 2004, bird flu was reported to have infected 44 people in several south Asian countries, killing 32.

The H5N1 strain, according to genetic studies, is said to mutate rapidly and is passed through direct contact with poultry and water birds excreta. This explains why the outbreaks first occurred in predominant poultry-producing countries in Asia such as China and Vietnam. The strain is also said to be passed on from person to person through direct contact and in some cases, airborne through droplet infection.

Signs and symptoms include sudden onset of fever, sore throat, cough and in fatal cases, respiratory distress secondary to viral pneumonia. Anti-virals Amantadine, Rimantadine, Oseltamivir, and Zanamivir are drugs of choice for treatment and prophylaxis of influenza. These drugs have proven activity against the HN51 viruses. However, there are other influenza strains that can be resistant to these drugs.

World Health Organizations list of prevention techniques include, proper hand washing and food handling, thorough cooking of poultry products such as chicken, ducks and turkeys, and avoidance of direct contact with bird excreta especially in public markets and poultry farms.

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Influenza has affected the lives of so many people, particularly in the 20th century. The Spanish Flu of 1918, Asian Flu of 1957 and Hong Kong Flu of 1968 killed at least 20 million people worldwide.

Bird flu can spread quickly since the bird flu virus is typically found in the intestines of migrant birds that travel great distances. Bird flu spreads when other birds, chickens or geese come in contact with an infected birds saliva, nasal secretions or feces. Birds fall ill and die within 48 hours of contracting the virus. Humans who interact with infected birds without proper protective gear are also at risk.

There are four reasons that scientists believe that bird flu could become a pandemic.

1. Many countries, specifically third world countries, do not have the proper facilities in place to take care of the bird flu problem. Without these facilities, there is a high possibility of the bird flu virus spreading.

2. No vaccine has been fully developed and tested to fight bird flu virus. Using amantadine and rimantadine, two drugs that are used to treat influenza, on those infected with the virus has not been successful. Even though research is underway, there is still no known cure for bird flu in humans. Should a pandemic happen, it will take at least four months to produce vaccines that can be distributed to people suffering from the disease.

3. The avian influenza virus affects birds and pigs. However, because the virus has different strains and they easily mutate, scientists fear the virus could evolve into something worse and affect humans directly. The virus could become airborne and be transmitted from one human to another.

4. People who work in farms and are in the poultry and livestock industry many not have the proper equipment and adequate protection against the disease.

A human who is possibly infected with bird flu could show symptoms similar to human influenza. A person with bird flu will experience fever, sore throat and muscle pains. Because of the similarity of symptoms between bird flu and human flu, a person with bird flu could be mistakenly diagnosed with human flu. However, advanced symptoms of bird flu include eye infections and respiratory problems, which could become life threatening.
In 1997, when an outbreak of bird flu occurred in Hong Kong, 18 people were infected and six were killed. As a quick response, Hong Kongs entire poultry population, which was estimated at 1.5 million, was killed. Many believe that this rapid response to the bird flu outbreak was the best solution and helped avert it from becoming a pandemic.

In general, there is little risk of most people getting infected with bird flu since it requires close or direct interaction with infected birds or bird feces. Since the number of people that has been infected with the disease is still low and confined to a few children and adults, there is no serious cause of alarm yet. However, for those who have constant contact with birds, the risk becomes very high during outbreaks in local poultry

Because of the constant and rapid advances in technology today, in addition to lessons learned from past major pandemics, there is hope that bird flu will be prevented from becoming another global pandemic.

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Avian Influenza or the H5N1 Bird Flu virus has not yet been found in North America but experts feel that it is only a matter of time before it crosses over from Asia to Europe and Africa. It may only be a matter of the next few months!
The US has already awarded 1 billion worth of contracts to five drug companies to develop a vaccine. The White House has an action plan ready to counter the pandemic in the midst of fears that a pandemic may kill up to two million Americans causing economic havoc.

The US and the European Union will host talks in Vienna on June 6-7 to evaluate the action plans to fight the Bird Flu crisis and this will include the vaccine development progress.

Vaccine development and manufacture was a top priority laid out by President George Bushs National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza.

206 people worldwide have been infected with the H5N1 virus out of which 113 have died, more than 50 percent, according to World Health Organization. Mr. Leavitt compared the H5N1 virus to the 1918-1919 influenza epidemics which had killed 50 million people worldwide.

The Bush administration released the Bird Flu response plan called the Pandemic Influenza which outlines the strategies that the government, businesses and citizens were to take incase a deadly strain reached the shores of USA. The Military would be called on to help.

The Pentagon spokesman, Bryan Whitman said that the Military would aid in transporting essential supplies via military aircraft, medical surveillance, scientific investigations and tests abroad, distribution of medicines and provision of emergency medical facilities, communication support to hospitals, spot dispensaries, police and other civic agencies. The US Military might even be used to give quarantine assistance andor be used in any appropriate situation. This would entail the need of the overseas troops as well.

US is looking for long term action plans and methods to slow the virus from spreading, get enough critical medical supply and limit if not stop this inevitable chaos. The government is trying to gear itself up against a worst-case scenario of almost 2 million deaths due to this deadly virus.

Until now only the only drug oseltamivir or Tamiflu is known to reduce the severity and duration of the illness within 48 hours of the flu symptoms. This may increase the chances of survival but clinical data is limited regarding this and until more research is done, it is all the help we have right now. Let us therefore join hands across the world and look for solutions to combat a situation that seems mightier than us!

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The primary symptom associated with Crohns Disease is diarrhea. The inflammation of the intestines experienced as a result of the disorder causes excessive amounts of salt and water to be produced that the body can not reabsorb. The body, in turn, attempts to dispose of the excess fluid causing diarrhea. Intestinal contractions also contribute to this process. The severity of diarrhea will vary by individual, from mildly loose occurring slightly more frequently to extremely watery occurring multiple times a day.

Another sign of Crohns is bleeding of the intestines, typically seen in the stool of the sufferer. This is caused by the swelling and inflammation of the intestinal wall, which becomes damaged as waste passes through the body. Depending on the severity, this can be of major concern, causing anemia and other complications. Ranging in color from bright red to darker shades, blood in ones stool should cause concern.

Abdominal pain and cramping are also common with Crohns Disease, as inflammation worsens. The swelling itself can be painful; however, the passage of waste through inflamed channels causes more discomfort. The longer inflammation lasts, the walls of the intestinal tract become thick with scar tissue, which worsens that matter.

Crohns sufferers also sometimes endure ulcers and sores as a result of the disease. Also caused as a result of inflammation, the intestines can develop abrasions that enlarge into ulcers. This correlates with abdominal pain and cramping as well. However, it can also lead to infection and other complications.

People that suffer from this disease are sometimes affected in unlikely areas of their life as well. When someone experiences digestive problems, they often lose their appetite and desire to consume food. This coupled with absorption problems, due to inflammation, may lead to malnutrition and weight loss.

Severe cases of Crohns Disease also exhibit fever, fatigue, and other issues that do not relate to the intestines, such as arthritis or liver disorders. However, the intensity of symptoms experienced will vary greatly from person to person. While some will have severe side effects, others may have very few. Because this disease is a chronic disorder, symptoms may also disappear for extended periods of time, only to return unexpectedly.

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Another pandemic waiting to happen

Officials at the World Health Organization WHO has said that the world is ripe for another influenza pandemic. An influenza pandemic occurs roughly every 30-40 years. The last influenza pandemic, which originated in Hong Kong in 1969, claimed 34,000 lives in the United States and even more in the Asian region. Although the viral subtype of the disease is still in circulation, the human body has already developed antibodies for it.

Historical precedence is not enough of a basis towards setting off global alarm bells. However, the patterns seen in the outbreaks point to the possibility of another influenza pandemic. There are an increasing number of cases wherein humans have been infected with the bird flu virus and the death toll from the disease is now more than 50.

One of the first signs of an impending pandemic is the crossing over of the disease from birds to humans. WHO is closely keeping its eye on the occurrence of a first case of human to human transmission of the bird flu virus. The human to human transmission of the disease will pose greater risks of infection to humans, which would effectively signal the start of a pandemic. To date, there are no recorded cases of bird flu being transmitted from an infected human to another.

To date, all human cases of bird flu were contracted by victims after having direct contact with infected animals and their secretions. However, the global health community is very much concerned because the bird flu virus mutates easily and is constantly evolving, and the first human to human transmission of the virus may just be around the corner.

Three global influenza pandemics a brief history

Three major influenza pandemics have occurred in 1918, 1957 and 1968. The first pandemic, the Spanish Flu of 1918-1919, had the highest mortality among the three pandemics. In less than a year, 20 to 40 million people died from the Spanish Flu, with over 50,000 lives claimed in the United States alone. Simultaneous outbreaks of the Spanish Flu were first detected in Europe and some parts of the United States. The infection spread to more areas through ships that traveled between the United States and Europe. Asia and Africa were eventually affected. The first wave of the pandemic was highly contagious although it was not deadly. The second wave, however, was deadly and occurred shortly in France, Sierra Leona and United States. It registered a ten-fold increase in mortality.

In 1957, a second pandemic occurred. Called the Asian Flu because it was first detected in Hong Kong and Singapore, it was much milder than the Spanish Flu, claiming between one and four million lives. When the second pandemic hit, the people were more prepared and knew what to expect. This was due largely to the worlds experience with the first pandemic. The Asian Flu virus was soon isolated in Japanese and Singaporean laboratories. The findings helped the World Health Organization alert the world about the onset of a pandemic and vaccines were immediately produced and distributed.

The most recent influenza pandemic happened in 1968 and lasted for a year. Dubbed as the Hong Kong Flu, it was first detected in China and later spread to Hong Kong where it escalated at an alarming rate. Like the Asian Flu, the Hong Kong Flu claimed between one and four million lives. It reached Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, particularly California.

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Some of these diseases can be fatal and spread quickly. One of the short-term outbreaks of recent history was SARS. One of the diseases not yet cured is HIVAIDS. Bird flu, or avian influenza, is one of the diseases that medical science has targeted as likely to spread from human to human soon, unless a more effective immunization or other cure is discovered first.

A plain description of the bird flu threat

In very general terms, bird flu is an infection of a flu virus that originally spread among birds. Avian influenza viruses can spread around the globe because birds migrate great distances. These viruses are typically found in the birds intestines. Many of these viruses do not cause severe symptoms in the birds. When birds are packed closely together, such as in poultry farms with chickens and turkeys, the avian influenza viruses spread very rapidly among them.

Bird flu crossing the species barrier into humans was first confirmed in Hong Kong in 1997. Since that time the World Health Organization WHO has worked with government and private health agencies around the world to try to monitor the disease. Many of these agencies are seeking remedies for human cases of the bird flu, while monitoring for any mutations in the disease that might lead to a spread among humans or change how the disease can be remedied.

There is currently little risk of bird flu for most people, as it requires close interaction with infected birds or bird feces. However, for those who have constant contact with birds, the risk becomes very high during outbreaks in local poultry. This is particularly true for the current strain of bird flu known as H5N1, or avian influenza A. The alarm was sounded around the end of 2003 when H5N1 infected poultry in several Asian countries led to several human infections. About half of those infected died.

Know the symptoms

Bird flu spreads by contact with an infected birds saliva, nasal secretions, or feces. Other birds appear to have little resistance to the disease when they come in contact with the virus and are quickly infected. Hence the more closely birds interact the more quickly it spreads. Humans who interact with these birds without proper protective gear are also susceptible to the disease.

It is important to know the symptoms of bird flu so that you can respond quickly and appropriately if you see these symptoms. In birds the H5N1 strain can cause diarrhea, difficulty breathing, excessive shedding, and a swollen head. Of course if youre not a bird expert youre unlikely to be able to differentiate these symptoms from normal bird behavior, save the difficulty breathing. And you certainly wont note these symptoms unless youre up close to see the bird.

Some of the more general symptoms of bird flu are the same symptoms youd likely see in any flu strain. These symptoms are cough, headache, fever, sore throat, chest pains, muscle aches, and lethargy. Some severe symptoms that may be an alarm for bird flu are pneumonia, eye infections, acute respiratory problems such as breathing difficulties, inflammation of the heart, and inflammation of the brain.

As noted, many of the symptoms of bird flu can be confused with a normal flu. Many of the other symptoms are hard for anyone but a trained health care worker to identify. However, if you have any reason to suspect these symptoms are present, you should seek immediate medical attention for the sake of the infected individual and everyone else who might become infected if H5N1 should make the human to human leap.

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The H5N1 virus has infected many species including ducks, chickens, turkeys, tree sparrows, peregrine falcons, great black-headed gulls, brown-headed gulls, gray herons, Canada geese, bar-headed geese, little egrets, pigs, clouded leopards, white tigers, mice, domestic cats, crows, magpies, peacocks, blue pheasants, rare eagles, turtledoves, swans, terns, and others.

Human infections have occurred in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Indonesia, and now Turkey. Almost all human infections have occurred by humans ingesting blood or insufficiently cooked meat from birds infected with the virus, or being in close contact with sick birdschildren playing with sick or dead birds for example.

One recent case involved a person acquiring bird flu by coming into contact with a glove from a person culling removing and killing infected birds. There have been several instances where transmission of the H5N1 virus is thought to have occurred directly from human-to-humanparents taking care of their children who had the virus.

Transmission of the H5N1 bird-flu virus to humans to this point has, thereforein the vast majority of casesinvolved ingestion of, or being in close contact with, infected birds. As the virus continues to spread, via migratory birds from country-to-country, it could come to North American and the United States via this mechanism as well. If that were the case, then Americans could well be exposed to the virus through ingestion of, or close contact with, infected birds. This mode of transmission could also take place once the pandemic begins.

However, once the pandemic actually begins, by definition human-to-human transmission will be the primary mode of transmission. In other words, once the pandemic starts, those who become infected will most likely have gotten their infection from someone elseanother human. And, given what we know about seasonal influenza and its transmission, it is most likely that children will be the biggest source of infection. Therefore, while we might have to worry about acquiring the virus from both wild and domestic birds, the much more important source of human infections will be each other.

Once the global pandemic starts, it will come to the United States through travelers from other countries where the pandemic has already begununless the pandemic actually starts in the United Stateswhich is possible but unlikely.

Bradford Frank, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A.
The Frank Group
P.O. Box 138
Lakewood, NY 14750
800-488-2353

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The important thing to understand is the infection of bird flu is not necessarily a death sentence. Although a large number of deaths have occurred, almost half of those infected survived the disease. Therefore, with advanced medicine and proper care, a person may be able to live after bird flu.

What you do if someone you know is diagnosed will greatly depend on how well you know the person. Is it a friend? Acquaintance? Family member? Obviously, if it is a close friend or family member, you will want to be as supportive as possible. This will be a difficult time for them and any assistance you can provide will probably be greatly appreciated. On the other hand, if you are only dealing with an acquaintance, you may feel relieved and fortunate to have not suffered the same fate. While you may feel guilt at this thought, you can consider it a wake up call to bring the risk to your attention. You may also use this time to lend a helping hand, although you do not feel emotionally obligated to do so.

When someone you know becomes infected, you should also consider the source of the infection and the severity of the threat present. If a family member becomes ill while working on a family farm, you may ascertain infected agricultural animals are to blame and the threat must be alleviated. On the other hand, if no apparent cause is known, human to human contact may be a consideration. This is not only essential information for you to know, but also health professionals in your area. Currently human contact is not a transmission means; therefore, the onset of such would be of great concern.

The important thing to remember is to be there for your loved ones and feel blessed that you are available to help them as opposed to sharing their fate. You will, of course, want to be careful not to become infected during this time, if it can be avoided.

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I have also mentioned before that I believe that two of the best things that anyone can do to help themselves, is to ensure that their Immune System is functioning as efficiently as is possible, in other words, using your own preventative system to ward off the virus, and the second thing to do is to say a prayer.

Whether you visit my websites and use the products that I offer to help your immune system, or whether you go somewhere else, that is your choice, but, the important thing is that you do something.

Medical supply companies state that in recent times there has been a huge increase in the sale of surgical masks, about 500. Please don’t think that they will help you as a normal surgical mask is worn by surgeons and nurses to protect the patient from receiving germs breathed out by medical staff, not to prevent the surgical staff from receiving germs from the patient.

Masks in fact could enhance the spread of flu, because when a mask becomes damp through breathing, it loses nearly all of it efficiency in protecting the wearer from inhaling the germs.
If you touch your mask with your fingers the virus can be spread wherever your fingers go, door knobs, touching your own nose or mouth, or other peoples hands.

Masks that can filter out germs, are usually large and cumbersome, also expensive, and they must have a very secure seal around your nose and mouth, they are a long way from being 100 secure.

The current drugs available, like Tamiflu, might help, once you have the flu, and there is currently no vaccine available, to prevent you from catching the flu, because it can’t be produced until the virus has mutated, that fortunately has not happened yet.

If mutation occurs, the virus will be isolated and then rushed to the three laboratories in the world that is used by the United Nations, World Health Organisation to produce a vaccine to fight, prevent and to overcome any pandemic. These three laboratories are usually the ones used each year to design the anti flu vaccine, that is used worldwide, then it is passed to various manufacturers for mass production.

You should be getting the idea, that if this virus becomes pandemic, perhaps hundreds of thousands of people will die, at this point in time it is still only going from bird to bird and to human and not human to human. Hopefully the virus will not mutate, unfortunately a number of scientists believe that it is not will it mutate, but when.

There is wide concern in Europe, the Governments of countries near to, or bordering with Turkey, are taking numerous precautions to stop the spread, the problem is, how do you prevent birds from flying over the border? birds know nothing about borders or passports and visa’s.

There is without doubt a spread of Bird Flu, as it first started in Asia spreading to adjoining countries by passing from bird to bird, with a few human deaths everywhere that it has been, I feel sure that it will not stop in Turkey, that would be very naive, it will spread to bordering countries, where lots of farm livestock such as chickens will have to be put down, making chicken and eggs more expensive due to short supply.

I will once again emphasise that the important things to do, is to make sure you have an efficient immune system and say a prayer.

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