First, let me say that I personally do not feel
threatened by Avian flu.  I do, however, believe that
some people with immunosuppressive type illnesses
and/or some segments of the elderly population MAY be
at slight risk absent a successful medical
innoculation and/or drugs to abate the secondary
illnesses that could arise.  That, however, is pure
speculation on my part, and I think this is simply
another hype by a jaundiced media looking for it's
next hype and an embattled president trying to boost
poll numbers by saying he's looking out after the
average American.  

Now, enough of the opinion, and here's what the the
United States Center for Disease Control (CDC) has to
factually say on this matter.  Because this is but
another boogie monster to be pushed under gullible
beds (the same gullible minds who just knew that
anthrax would be appearing in a mail box near you and
that there was definitely yellow cake in Niger), it's
best to present the full fact sheet for the benefit of
a list that will chew itself inside out debating the
subject if not careful.

LINK:  http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/facts.htm

TEXT:

Key Facts About Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) and Avian
Influenza A (H5N1) Virus
December 6, 2005
 
This fact sheet provides general information about
avian influenza (bird flu) and information about one
type of bird flu, called avian influenza A (H5N1),
that has caused infections in birds in Asia and Europe
and in humans in Asia. Also see Questions and Answers
on the CDC website and Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQs) on the World Health Organization (WHO) website.


Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) 
Avian influenza in birds 
Avian influenza is an infection caused by avian (bird)
influenza (flu) viruses. These influenza viruses occur
naturally among birds. Wild birds worldwide carry the
viruses in their intestines, but usually do not get
sick from them. However, avian influenza is very
contagious among birds and can make some domesticated
birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, very
sick and kill them. 

Infected birds shed influenza virus in their saliva,
nasal secretions, and feces. Susceptible birds become
infected when they have contact with contaminated
secretions or excretions or with surfaces that are
contaminated with secretions or excretions from
infected birds. Domesticated birds may become infected
with avian influenza virus through direct contact with
infected waterfowl or other infected poultry, or
through contact with surfaces (such as dirt or cages)
or materials (such as water or feed) that have been
contaminated with the virus. 

Infection with avian influenza viruses in domestic
poultry causes two main forms of disease that are
distinguished by low and high extremes of virulence.
The “low pathogenic” form may go undetected and
usually causes only mild symptoms (such as ruffled
feathers and a drop in egg production). However, the
highly pathogenic form spreads more rapidly through
flocks of poultry. This form may cause disease that
affects multiple internal organs and has a mortality
rate that can reach 90-100% often within 48 hours. 

Human infection with avian influenza viruses
There are many different subtypes of type A influenza
viruses. These subtypes differ because of changes in
certain proteins on the surface of the influenza A
virus (hemagglutinin [HA] and neuraminidase [NA]
proteins). There are 16 known HA subtypes and 9 known
NA subtypes of influenza A viruses. Many different
combinations of HA and NA proteins are possible. Each
combination represents a different subtype. All known
subtypes of influenza A viruses can be found in birds.

Usually, “avian influenza virus” refers to influenza A
viruses found chiefly in birds, but infections with
these viruses can occur in humans. The risk from avian
influenza is generally low to most people, because the
viruses do not usually infect humans. However,
confirmed cases of human infection from several
subtypes of avian influenza infection have been
reported since 1997. Most cases of avian influenza
infection in humans have resulted from contact with
infected poultry (e.g., domesticated chicken, ducks,
and turkeys) or surfaces contaminated with
secretion/excretions from infected birds. The spread
of avian influenza viruses from one ill person to
another has been reported very rarely, and
transmission has not been observed to continue beyond
one person. 

“Human influenza virus” usually refers to those
subtypes that spread widely among humans. There are
only three known A subtypes of influenza viruses
(H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2) currently circulating among
humans. It is likely that some genetic parts of
current human influenza A viruses came from birds
originally. Influenza A viruses are constantly
changing, and they might adapt over time to infect and
spread among humans. 

During an outbreak of avian influenza among poultry,
there is a possible risk to people who have contact
with infected birds or surfaces that have been
contaminated with secretions or excretions from
infected birds. 

Symptoms of avian influenza in humans have ranged from
typical human influenza-like symptoms (e.g., fever,
cough, sore throat, and muscle aches) to eye
infections, pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases
(such as acute respiratory distress), and other severe
and life-threatening complications. The symptoms of
avian influenza may depend on which virus caused the
infection. 

Studies done in laboratories suggest that the
prescription medicines approved in the United States
for human influenza viruses should work in treating
avian influenza infection in humans. However,
influenza viruses can become resistant to these drugs,
so these medications may not always work. Additional
studies are needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of
these medicines. 

Avian Influenza A (H5N1) 
Avian influenza A (H5N1) in Asia and Europe
Influenza A (H5N1) virus – also called “H5N1 virus” –
is an influenza A virus subtype that occurs mainly in
birds, is highly contagious among birds, and can be
deadly to them. 

Outbreaks of avian influenza H5N1 occurred among
poultry in eight countries in Asia (Cambodia, China,
Indonesia, Japan, Laos, South Korea, Thailand, and
Vietnam) during late 2003 and early 2004. At that
time, more than 100 million birds in the affected
countries either died from the disease or were killed
in order to try to control the outbreaks. By March
2004, the outbreak was reported to be under control.
Since late June 2004, however, new outbreaks of
influenza H5N1 among poultry were reported by several
countries in Asia (Cambodia, China [Tibet], Indonesia,
Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Russia [Siberia],
Thailand, and Vietnam). It is believed that these
outbreaks are ongoing. Influenza H5N1 infection also
has been reported among poultry in Turkey and Romania
and among wild migratory birds in Croatia. 

Human cases of influenza A (H5N1) infection have been
reported in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Thailand, and
Vietnam. For the most current information about avian
influenza and cumulative case numbers, see the World
Health Organization (WHO) website at
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/. 

Human health risks during the H5N1 outbreak 

H5N1 virus does not usually infect people, but more
than 130 human cases have been reported by the World
Health Organization since January 2004. Most of these
cases have occurred as a result of people having
direct or close contact with infected poultry or
contaminated surfaces; however, a few cases of
human-to-human spread of H5N1 have occurred. 

Of the few avian influenza viruses that have crossed
the species barrier to infect humans, H5N1 has caused
the largest number of detected cases of severe disease
and death in humans. In the current outbreaks in Asia
and Europe, more than half of those infected with the
virus have died. Most cases have occurred in
previously healthy children and young adults. However,
it is possible that the only cases currently being
reported are those in the most severely ill people,
and that the full range of illness caused by the H5N1
virus has not yet been defined. 

So far, the spread of H5N1 virus from person to person
has been rare and has not continued beyond one person.
Nonetheless, because all influenza viruses have the
ability to change, scientists are concerned that H5N1
virus one day could be able to infect humans and
spread easily from one person to another. Because
these viruses do not commonly infect humans, there is
little or no immune protection against them in the
human population. If H5N1 virus were to gain the
capacity to spread easily from person to person, an
influenza pandemic (worldwide outbreak of disease)
could begin. For more information about influenza
pandemics, see http://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic/ and
http://www.pandemicflu.gov. 

No one can predict when a pandemic might occur.
However, experts from around the world are watching
the H5N1 situation in Asia and Europe very closely and
are preparing for the possibility that the virus may
begin to spread more easily and widely from person to
person. 

Treatment and vaccination for H5N1 virus in humans 

The H5N1 virus that has caused human illness and death
in Asia is resistant to amantadine and rimantadine,
two antiviral medications commonly used for influenza.
Two other antiviral medications, oseltamavir and
zanamavir, would probably work to treat influenza
caused by H5N1 virus, but additional studies still
need to be done to demonstrate their effectiveness. 

There currently is no commercially available vaccine
to protect humans against H5N1 virus that is being
seen in Asia and Europe. However, vaccine development
efforts are taking place. Research studies to test a
vaccine to protect humans against H5N1 virus began in
April 2005, and a series of clinical trials is under
way. For more information about H5N1 vaccine
development process, visit the National Institutes of
Health website.
 
 

 


Indigo Nights
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