Avian Influenza - Bird Flu

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Avian influenza (bird flu)

Avian influenza (bird flu) is the common name of some type A strains of the influenza virus, which cause an infectious disease in birds and other animals. Infection usually causes only mild illness to birds, but occasionally the results are severe fatal epidemics.

Avian influenza and humans

Until 1997 it was thought that only birds and pigs could be infected by the virus. but then the H5N1 strain infected 18 humans, of whom 6 died. in February 2003 2 more cases were found in Hong Kong, resulting in 1 death. in 2004 H5N1 avian influenza viruses infected several humans in the northern part of Viet Nam. The bird flu virus was particularly violent, and the human immune system finds it hard to deal with. patients developed fever, cough and in several of the fatal cases severe respiratory distress secondary to viral pneumonia.

So what's the big deal?

So far, the number of humans who died from the bird flu disease is very low. So if the H5N1 strain demonstrates such a limited capacity to infect humans, and if humans cannot pass the disease to other humans, why is there such concern? Well, Avian influenza viruses undergo antigenic change frequently, resulting with new subtypes different from both parent viruses. humans might no have immunity to the new subtype, and to develop a vaccine takes a while.

Of particular public concern Is the fact that an epidemic of avian influenza caused by H5N1, which began in Korea, is now spreading to other countries in Asia. Lately Europe was hit, when infected chickens were discovered in turkey and Romania.

What do I do?

If you are not a farmer and don’t deal with live poultry, you don’t have much to worry about, yet. Furthermore, Antiviral drugs are effective so far against influenza A virus strains in otherwise healthy people. But the drugs can be expensive and supplies limited. at least four months would be needed to produce a new vaccine for a new virus subtype.