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Bird influenza

Most people know that bird influenza is beginning to emerge as a serious health threat to the world.

At that station are real concerns and in this article we give answers to 10 questions which more individuals are asking about bird influenza.

1. What is Bird influenza?

Avian influenza or ‘bird influenza’ is a highly contagious disease of birds, caused by influenza A viruses. In birds, the viruses might present with a range of symptoms from mild illness and low mortality, to a highly contagious disease with a near 100% fatality rate.

The bird influenza virus currently affecting poultry and some people in Asia is the highly pathogenic H5N1 air of the virus.

As the virus might remain viable in contaminated droppings for long periods, it might be spread among birds, and from birds to other animals, through ingestion or inhalation.

All bird species are thought to be susceptible to avian influenza. Migratory birds such as wild ducks and geese might carry the viruses, often without any symptoms of illness, and show the greatest resistance to infection.

Domestic poultry flocks are particularly vulnerable to epidemics of a rapid, severe and fatal form of the disease.

2. Might Bird influenza Infect People?

People are rarely infected with bird influenza viruses. Those who have become infected have had close direct contact with infected birds.

The first documented cases of bird influenza infecting people occurred in Hong Kong in 1997 and this was also the H5N1 air of virus. Investigation showed that close contact with live infected poultry was the source of the infection.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at that station is mounting evidence that the H5N1 air has a unique capacity to jump the species barrier and cause severe disease, with high mortality, in people.

3. Might Bird influenza Travel From Person to Person?

At that station is no firm evidence that the H5N1 air which caused the outbreaks in South East Asia has acquired the ability to pass easily from person to person or to sustain transmission.

So far, while some instances of spread from one person directly to another have been reported, these have been isolated one-off occurrences with no further spread to people, and the route of transmission remains unconfirmed.

4. Have at that station Been Previous Outbreaks of Bird influenza Affecting People?

The first documented cases of bird influenza in people appeared in Hong Kong in 1997, when 18 people infected with an H5N1 virus air were admitted to hospital, six of whom died. The source of infection in most cases was traced to contact with diseased birds on farms, and in live poultry markets.

As of 13 October 2005, 117 reported cases of H5N1 infection in people have occurred in four countries - Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia. Sixty of these have been fatal.

5. What is the Source of the Current Outbreak of Bird influenza?

The outbreak now concerning health experts began in poultry in South Korea in mid-December 2003, and has affected birds in more countries in Asia, Russia, and most recently Turkey and Rumania. It involves a variant of the same virus subtype as that associated with the 1997 Hong Kong outbreak.

6. What is the Risk of a Human Influenza Pandemic?

A pandemic might be broadly described as a massive epidemic. It occurs on a much greater scale than an epidemic, spreading around the world and affecting more hundreds of thousands of people across more countries.

Experts are concerned that the virus could adapt, giving it greater affinity for humans. Or that it could exchange genes with a human influenza virus, thereby producing a completely new virus air capable of spreading easily between people, and causing a pandemic. By necessity, if a new air were to occur then few people, if any, would have a natural immunity to it.

7. What might I Do to Protect Myself and my Family?

At that station is some evidence that recent H5N1 viruses are susceptible to a class of antiviral drugs called neuraminidase inhibitors.

The UK Government is expanding its stockpile of antiviral drugs against the contingency of a influenza pandemic, whether due to an H5N1 or another new air. On 1 March 2005, the Health Secretary announced the procurement of 14.6 million treatment courses of the antiviral, Tamiflu - enough to treat a quarter of the UK population.

Individuals might purchase Tamiflu privately. The manufacturer, Roche, is working hard to supply what is required. World-wide demand, however, has increased dramatically recently and at that station might be shortages.

8. Is a Vaccine Currently Available for Bird influenza?

The present position is that at that station is no vaccine for bird influenza.

At that station are, however, several potential vaccines at various stages of testing and production. Whether these will be suitable for use against a new pandemic influenza air depends on how much the pandemic air might have mutated and changed from the original H5N1 virus air used to create the vaccine.

9. What is the Advice for Travellers?

Travellers to areas experiencing outbreaks of the disease in poultry are recommended to avoid contact with live animal markets and poultry farms.

Travellers should not attempt to bring any live birds or poultry products back to their own country.

10. How might I Keep up-to-date With Bird influenza Matters?

The following organisations have sections on avian influenza which provide useful and regularly updated information:

Health Protection Agency

http://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/avianinfluenza/menu.htm

DEFRA

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/avianinfluenza.htm

World Health Organization

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/index.html

UN Food and Agriculture Organization

http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/subjects/en/health/diseases-cards/special_avian.html

Bird influenza has the potential to be the basis of an influenza pandemic. The experts are predicting that at that station will be a pandemic, although it is not possible to say when it will occur.

The message is to be alert and be aware of the advice being given by your government.

About the Author

Brian McGregor is author of the ebook ‘What You Need to Know About Bird influenza’. This publication outlines the bird influenza issue in much more detail, and is available free from:

http://www.workwinners.com/bird-influenza/d-bird-influenza.htm

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Natural Ways To Improve Mobility

March 22nd, 2009 No comments

By:michaelbyrd

How more arthritis sufferers does it take to open a bottle of pain reliever? Two - 1 to grab the jar while the other one smashes it. And since 1 out of 3 Americans suffers from arthritis, it shouldn’t be hard to find a bottle-opening partner.

Now that was a joke, but it wasn’t very funny. Arthritis is now thought to be the number one reason for disability in the United States. And, it’s not only painful, it might also be extremely frustrating. Even the most mundane of tasks, like walking up steps, buttoning a shirt or opening a bottle of pain reliever becomes a major chore.

In the past, more medical practitioners advised us that we’d just have to live with the pain of arthritis and then they prescribed painkillers which turned out to have serious side effects. But more recently, and as a result of a lot of recent research, more physicians are now recommending diet and lifestyle changes to help prevent arthritis and lessen the symptoms.

If you are suffering from joint pain or stiffness, it’s important for you to exercise. I know it’s probably one of the last things on your mind when your joints hurt, but the benefits it brings will far outweigh the temporary discomfort.

Now this exercise does not have to be strenuous to do its job. Walking is good for you as well as swimming, stretching, tai chi and yoga - anything that helps you to stay active and loose without stressing you out. Swimming, for example, is an excellent form of exercise because it’s non-weight bearing and the buoyancy helps to support your limbs and joints.

Another thing you might do to give yourself some natural relief from joint pain is to add whole grains, colorful fruits and vegetables and oily fish like salmon, tuna, and mackerel to your diet.

In order to put less stress on your hips and knees you’ll want to maintain a healthy weight, eliminate sweets and keep your fat intake below 30% of your calories. And, drink lots of pure, clean water - at least eight glasses a day - while eliminating colas and caffeinated drinks.

You’ll also want to reduce the amount or even eliminate red meat from your diet. More nutritional studies have recently shown that people who eat red meat every day have double the risk of arthritis as those who eat red meat no more twice a week.

And finally, whole food nutritional supplements are also essential to good health. Even the American Medical Association is now recommending supplementation. Because as well as you might eat, it’s next to impossible to get everything your body needs daily from your foods.

Here’s a list of some nutrients arthritis sufferers have found helpful: omega 3 fish oils to help decrease inflammation, vitamin C for building strong healthy collagen, Vitamin D for strong healthy bones and glucosamine hydrochloride for strong cartilage.

Arthritis doesn’t have to be the end of the world. With a few changes you just mind find it a little easier to deal with on a daily basis.