Bird Flu- Prevention And Treatments

By: Saira Simmons

Bird flu is turning out to be a terror for Asian countries; the epidemic is growing rapidly which is a matter of concern for the U.S. Government. The recent out break has the potential to become a human flu pandemic.

As per recent updates Bird Flu has taken the lives of almost 50 people in Southeast Asia and resulted in the deaths of millions of poultry. The virus can be a serious threat if it develops the capacity of easy transmission from one person to another.

Bird flu symptoms

Bird flu symptoms are like any other flu's. The symptoms worsen to become a severe respiratory disease that has been fatal in a high percentage of cases.

In February 2005, researchers in Vietnam reported human cases of bird flu in which the virus infected the brain and digestive tract of two children. Both ultimately died after a few days of struggle. Hence, this proves that the bird flu may start like any other flu but more often than not is fatal.

Fortunately, no human cases of bird flu have been seen in the U.S. or North America. Yet as a precaution, the CDC is asking people who have traveled to East Asia to see a doctor if they develop flu-like symptoms. It's important to tell the doctor about having visited these areas so the proper tests can be done. Prevention is better than cure.

Avian Flu Treatment

The current bird flu strain is immune to older flu drugs. However, the drug remains sensitive to the newer flu drugs Tamiflu and Relenza. However, supplies remain short. Unfortunately there's only one plant making Tamiflu - and the U.S. isn't the only country desperately trying to build up a stockpile. Other countries, such as Britain, have also started stockpiling the drug.

Antiviral drugs, some of which can be used for both treatment and prevention, are clinically effective against influenza. But these drugs too have some limitations.

Avian Flu Vaccine

At least four months would be needed to produce a new vaccine, in significant quantities, capable of conferring protection against a new virus subtype. Such a vaccine will not be easy to produce, as the virus kills the chicken eggs usually used to mass-produce flu vaccines. One approach being contemplated is to produce the vaccine from a similar (but not egg-killing) strain isolated from ducks in Singapore in 1997.

About the Author:
Saira Simmons is a well known author who has long been writing articles related to health & fitness. Her articles are well known across the web for being quite informative and according to the changing trend in the pharmacy industry. saira.simmons@gmail.com http://www.checkflu.com

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Bird Flu: Diagnosis

By: Bradford Frank

Central to the problem of dealing with bird flu is diagnosis. A number of upper respiratory infections have similar symptomsat least at the onset of the illness, including the common cold, seasonal influenza, and bird flu. Seasonal flu and bird flu have almost identical symptomsincluding fever, cough, malaise (feeling unwell), nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. This is, needless to say, a gigantic problem in accurately diagnosing bird fluwhich is critical to beginning appropriate treatment as well as initiating infection control procedures and public health measures.

Currently, accurate testing for bird flu and other vial infections that can cause similar symptoms is difficult and requires specialized testing. This testing is time consuming and only available in specialized reference laboratories, which are few and far between. Fortunately, this may change in the near future.

According to Richard Janeczko, Ph.D., executive vice-president and chief scientific officer, Tm Bioscience, located In Toronto, Canada, is feverishly working to complete the final stage of development of an amazing testnot only for bird flu, but for more than 15 other viral infections (including severe acute respiratory syndrome or SARS), many of which can mimic the symptoms of bird flu (personal communication). (Tm Bioscience is a DNA-based diagnostics company developing a suite of genetic tests. Tm Biosciences product pipeline includes tests for genetic disorders, drug metabolism, and infectious diseases.

The test, called the Multiplexed Respiratory Test, discriminates influenza A from influenza B and identifies the H5-subtype of influenza A (bird flu is H5N1) from all other H subtypes. In addition, it can identify almost all the other commonand some uncommonviruses that cause influenza-like illnesses. This is extremely important in managing patients, communities and economic issues. Other tests have lower clinical sensitivities and specificities which can lead to both false positives and false negatives.

By incorrectly identifying an outbreak as due to H5N1, patients could be treated with anti-virals unnecessarily (thus raising the chances of selecting for drug-resistant strains), unneeded vaccination programs in asymptomatic individuals could be initiated, and damage to local and national economiesthrough such measures as culling of commercial poultry operationscould occur. Conversely a false-negative test result could lead to catastrophic outcomes, including a pandemic.

The assay utilizes swab specimens taken from the nose and takes less than 5 hours to perform. It was developed for use as a diagnostic tool and for infection control in hospitals. The assay has been slated for expedited review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and TM Bioscience is hoping to have an FDA-cleared test available by the end of January 2006. If this assay delivers what it claims, it will have huge applicability on a global basis and save many lives.

About the Author:
Bradford Frank, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A. The Frank Group. P.O. Box 138 Lakewood, NY 14750 http://www.AvoidBirdFlu.com

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Bird Flu And Your Personal Safety

By: Eng. Muath Daraghmeh

The world we live in today is not safer than the one known by our parents and grandparents. If you've kept up with the news lately, you've heard terrible warnings about bird flu. It's the most serious known health threat the world is facing that has swept through the world bird population. Theres never a total absence of risks in our lives. Risks are voluntary actions and can be managed. Emergencies can be met and handled, but it takes know-how and continuous awareness. What you can't prevent, you can usually compensate for or protect against. With alarm growing over the possibility of a bird flu pandemic, we all must acknowledge the fact that we bear some of the responsibility for making our environment safe and safety is thinking about other people, too.

Remember that we live on the same planet and our interests are interconnected

The following statements provide a summary of bird flu outbreaks:

Its caused by the influenza A (H5N1) virus.

The infection can occur through the inhalation of the material infected with virus like cages, bird feeds, clothing, shoes of workers in farms, and any contaminated equipment.

There is a greater risk of getting bird flu while handling the infected bird or infected eggs than eating these foods, as most cases of bird flu infection in humans have resulted from direct or close contact with infected poultry or surfaces contaminated with secretions and excretions from infected birds.

Scientists believe that at least some migratory waterfowl are now carrying the virus and introducing the virus to poultry droves in areas that lie along their migratory routes.

Within a country the disease spreads easily from farm to farm. Even small quantities of bird droppings carry a large load of the virus.

Bird flu can appear within 1 5 days after contact with the infected material.

It can pass from bird to bird, and from bird to human. No noticeable evidence to confirm human-to-human transmission of bird flu.The fear is that mutation of the virus will cause it to be easily spread from person to person, since flu viruses can change rapidly.

The symptoms of bird flu in humans have ranged from standard flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches to eye infections and other complications.

It has killed around 55% of the people it has infected so far.

Humans have no immunity to it.

There is no vaccine. Any new vaccine will be limited, not widely available.

Antibiotics are useless against virus-caused flu.

It can be contained through quarantine.

The best way to cut the risk of attack is by taking sensible precautions. You are probably already aware of some of the precautions listed below, but some may be new to you, and you may find them useful. According to The US Department of Agriculture; Proper handling and cooking of poultry provides further protection against this virus, as it does against many viruses and bacteria, including Salmonella and E.coli. Safe food handling and preparation is important at all times.

Here is a summary of USDA recommendations:

Wash hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food (like fresh poultry and or eggs;

Prevent cross-contamination by keeping raw meat, poultry, fish, and their juices away from other foods;

After cutting raw meats, wash cutting board, knife, and counter tops with hot, soapy water;

Sanitize cutting boards by using a solution of 1 teaspoon chlorine bleach in 1 quart of water; and

Use a food thermometer to ensure food has reached the proper temperature. Cook whole birds to 180 F; breasts to 170 F; drumsticks, thighs and wings to 180 F; ground turkey and chicken to 165 F; and a minimum oven temperature of 325 F.

To paraphrase

If the food is well cooked, there is hardly any risk of getting bird flu as no data suggest that the disease can be transmitted to humans through properly cooked food (even if contaminated with the virus prior to cooking). And in general, frequent and thorough hand washing is to be observed to avoid getting the disease during processing and cooking of possibly infected poultry.

While your government will follow certain policy and procedures to prepare for a pandemic, people action and people responsibility are of vital importance for the success of any plan to maximize our preparation So if there is an outbreak of the bird flu virus, the solution is readily available if people would just get the right information on flu prevention and treatment with vaccines or other medical products. Knowledge is POWER and we need to be prepared for an outbreak of bird flu.

Altogether, more than 50% of the confirmed cases have been fatal. This kind of flu in humans is still a relatively rare disease, but a very strict one that must be taken into consideration and closely studied, because of the potential this virus to evolve in ways that could cause a human pandemic.

About the Author:
Article by Eng. Muath Daraghmeh, Muath is the webmaster of http://www.provenEbiz.com His background in sales, e-marketing, management, and multi-media advertising have given him outstanding insight into successful business principles. Visit the site for the *best rated* Internet Business Opportunities, e-books,news and lots more"

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Avian Flu Symptoms

By: Peter Gomes

Influenza viruses are constantly changing and mutating. Today the current risk to the world population in that the H5N1 strain of avian bird flu will adapt and start to spread from human to human.

If the H5N1 strain does adapt and start to spread, the concern for health and government officials is since humans do not have any natural protection or immunity against the new strain of bird flu, we will quickly be in a worldwide pandemic.

There have been bird flu epidemics in the past and governments have been quick to quarantine poultry operations and destroy thousands of birds, in order to prevent more contamination.

Obviously these measures have had a dramatic financial impact on poultry farmers. Some governments have stepped in to compensate farmers for economic losses and this could be a key strategy to prevent the spread of bird flu.

What are the avian flu symptoms in birds?

Avian flu symptoms in chickens, ducks and other birds are highly contagious and can be fatal. The virus spreads quickly amongst birds through nasal, respiratory and fecal matter.

Look for these avian flu symptoms in birds: Decrease in bird's activities, decline in egg production, swelling of the face with blue colored combs and wattles, breathing problems, diarrhoea, muscle paralysis and sudden death.

If the H5N1 virus does mutate and is passed from human to human the public should be aware to take simple but effective precautions. Some precautions should include, avoiding people with the flu, quarantining yourself if you have the flu and conducting proper hand washing and sneezing etiquette.

What are avian flu symptoms in humans?

Avian flu symptoms in humans can range from traditional and typical flu like conditions such as fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches and may also include sore eyes or eye infections, pneumonia, respiratory diseases, chest pains, organ failure and other life threatening conditions.

If you suspect that you have the avian flu, you should have a blood test to confirm the results and take precautionary measures to ensure that you do not spread the virus.

About the Author: Peter Gomes is a contributor to http://www.avian-flu-symptoms.com

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Avian Flu: Do You Want The Good News Or The Bad News? Part II

By: Dr Robert Gamble

Avian Flu: The bad news first

Well, it's flu season again. Only this time, we hear everyone talking about avian fluthe Super flu which is expected to wreck havoc across our land in the not so distant months.

So what is avian flu? Avian flu is bird flu. Yes, you read that right, "Avian flu is bird flu._ And why might that be such bad news?

If you pursue the news much, you will read that the deadliest disease in history is widely regarded as the Spanish Flu epidemic which killed 40 million people in just months. Scientists now believe the epidemic was an avian flu pandemic. In other words, the virus came from birds - it is believed - and a virus similar to this one -called the "H5N1_ (a form of avian flu virus). Its origins? Most scientists agree it originated in Asia, as this one.

Flu comes every season. It comes in one of two forms, Type A or Type B influenza. Type A is the more potent of these kinds of flu, and avian flu is Type A. These strains kill.

The current avian flu bug is infecting and spreading throughout the poultry industry in Asia. Why so often in Asia? Simply putand here is a key to understanding how to deal with avian flu - poultry farms are absolutely filthy. The stench from such farms, especially those throughout Asia, can be detected a mile away. Those farms are packed with animals which are weak with compromised, weakened, immune systems.

Let these two phrases sink in together: avian flu and weakened immune systems. Whether we are dealing with the aftermath of the horrible conditions and weakened immune systems of millions who survived World War I or the horrible conditions of Asian and European poultry farms and their millions of animals with weakened immune systems, the key to this potential pandemic is "weakened immune systems and avian flu".

Because of the rapid spread and highly dangerous nature of the avian flu to birds, millions of flocks have been destroyed throughout the afflicted countries. However, that is simply not working because migratory birds are carrying the avian flu to distant lands, thus spreading its contagion. Interestingly, the migratory birds are not dying like the chickens. Why? Because their immune systems are much stronger, we are told by scientists.

Let that one sink in too: avian flu is not killing those animals so readily which have strong immune systems. Humavian flu and immune systemsCould be we have something here.

Incidentally, there have been only about a hundred deaths from avian flu worldwide. It is almost impossible for avian flu to make the transition from bird to human easily.

Avian Flu: Now for the really bad news

Of course, as soon as there is the slightest danger -avian flu or otherwise -our government jumps into high gear to infect every one of us, if possible, with its antiviral drug program against the slightest hint of avian flu. To date, everyone of the influenza drugs have proven worthlessor worse, against avian flu or any other kind of flu.

Note this statement from the former Chief Vaccine Control at the Federal Food and Drug Administration:

There is no evidence that any influenza vaccine thus far developed is effective in preventing or mitigating any attack of influenza. The producers of these vaccines know that they are worthless, but they go on selling them anyway.

--Dr. J. Anthony Morris

I wonder if this will apply to the alleged avian flu "antidote". Note: The last few decades have seen a dramatic shift in fatalities from seasonal flu (some of which are avian flu).

Researchers now know the increase in the population does NOT account for the doubling of the seasonal average death toll from flu (avian flu or otherwise). Less than 20,000 were dying per year for decades. But, since the advent of the flu shot, averages of over 40,000 people per year have been dying.

Why?

One suggestion is a combination of two factors: the continued impairment of the immune system of the average American as witnessed by the multitude of epidemic diseases among us (not present in appreciable amounts in previous decades). The second factor follows below (like the second Horseman of the Apocalypse).

Let's seeone thing we do know about flu vaccines. They are not proven to work No, two things we knowYes, yes. They can kill. Just as surely as the avian flu can kill.

Many authorities believe the flu shot actually weakens the immune systemah, there it is againthe immune system weakened.

Why is that? Let's see. The ingredients in the flu vaccine (remember this when dealing with the avian flu) include:

_ Formaldehyde, you knowembalming fluid known to cause cancer.

_ Aluminum, the very metal related to Alzheimer's disease, cancers of numerous types and traumatic seizures.

_ Carbolic Acid: a terribly caustic poison.

_ Ethylene Glycol: You will definitely need this fluid this winter, but please only use it as anti-freeze for your car, as it was designed to be used originally.

_ Mercury: This is present in the vaccine ingredient called thimerosol. This is a known medical crippler and killer. It kills brain cells and immune cells and is linked to childhood brain and nervous diseases because of its use in VACCINES.

_ Vaccines for use in avian flu are grown on virus strains developed from pus-laden animal tissue mixed with the above mentioned deadly chemicals. (Bulleted items: Special Report, "Bird Flu, H5N1", Dr. Richard Schulze, November 2005, p. 12. Great "avian flu_ resource.)

Is it any wonder the drug companies involved sought to be legally protected from law suits by those who might use these drugs against avian flu?

Forgive my skepticism, but I have seen from the inside of the medical/drug establishment, the fanatical zeal to make money as a first priority Been there, opposed that. Avian flu treatment will not be any different.

Don't count on the Hippocratic Oath to protect you from avian flu. There is big money in these drugs. Billions. And it is always suspicious when a drug company seeks lawsuit immunity (hum, appropriate wording here) BEFORE THE FACT (before its use against avian flu!)

Avian Flu: Now for the good news (finally).

Avian flu was not in view when this following statement was made. However, read it carefully with avian flu in mind.

In Congressional testimony concerning the potential of bio-terrorism attack upon the United States, Dr. H. Reginald McDaniel stated,

In instances of unusual, epidemic, or virulent infectious agent exposure, glyconutrient supplementation has been found effective for enhancing general immune functions and defense. When supplied at higher levels than available in nature, sugars needed for cellular synthesis can take
innate defense systems to a much higher level that are effective against infectious agents.

In other words, if we were attacked by an enemy with bio weapons -such as avian flu- we could find protection with glyconutrition. This is a powerful, non-prescriptive antidote possibility against avian flu.

Glyconutrition enhances the immune system's natural defenses so powerfully that cancers, flu, and other UNDER ACTIVE IMMUNE DISORDERS can be stopped. The evidence is already in place. There is no guesswork here. Avian flu is flu, Type A, precisely the kind of flu glyconutrition is designed to offset.

Glyconutrition is effective - presumably against avian flu too - and has no side effects. It is a food substance, proven to be vital for human survival. There are no less than four Nobel Prizes to substantiate the presence and human need for glyconutrition.

There is an abundance of evidence showing its effectiveness against all kinds of disease, including flu. It doesn't attack the flu directly. It strengthens the immune defenses - killer T cells and others - and they kill the tumors, flu, herpes simplex, shingles, strep, TB, bacterial infections, cancers, parasitic diseases Quite a list of killers thus killed.

So

Guess what I am going to take to protect my family this year against avian fluif it develops?

About the Author:
Dr. Robert Gamble is retired from a very successful medical/surgical career spanning three decades. He is now active in researching medical issues such as glyconutrition and offers his insights for public benefit. For information about Glyconutrition: Go to http://www.glycoshare.com or write NetPublish@myarticleannoun.com Call Toll Free: 1866.735.5871

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