Avian influenza is an infection caused due to avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. These influenza viruses occur naturally among all 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 turkInfected birds shed influenza virus in their saliva, nasal secretions and feces.

Causes of bird flu and aftermaths

Infection with avian influenza viruses in domestic poultry causes two 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 which affects multiple internal organs and has a mortality rate that can reach up to 50% too.

Current Situation

Outbreaks of avian influenza among poultry are ongoing in several countries in Asia, including Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. Reports of sporadically occurring human cases of influenza are continued through January 2005. Thailand reported five human cases of influenza H5N1 with four deaths in September and October 2004 but no additional cases to date. Thirteen human cases of influenza A (H5N1) infection with 12 deaths have been reported by Vietnam since mid-December 2004. WHO has reported that 10 of these cases with 9 deaths have been confirmed?

How much in control?

One instance of probable limited the human transmission of influenza A (H5N1) virus was reported in Thailand between a child and her mother and aunt in September 2004. Health authorities in Vietnam are into investigating two possible instances of limited human-to-human transmission in family clusters.

One instance involves two brothers in Vietnam with confirmed influenza A (H5N1) infections and third brother was hospitalized for observation only and did not become ill. In the second instance, a daughter developed symptoms within 6 days of her mother's onset of illness which was confirmed as influenza A (H5N1).

Few more updates

In addition, the first human case of influenza H5 infection is in Cambodia has been confirmed in a woman who was hospitalized in Vietnam and died in few days. A joint mission between the Cambodian Ministries of Health and Agriculture and WHO in Cambodia investigating the circumstances surrounding this case.

To date, nine Asian countries have reported outbreaks (listed in order of reporting): the Republic of Korea, Viet Nam, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Indonesia, China, and Malaysia. Of these, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Malaysia have controlled their outbreaks and are

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Influenza, Bird Flu and homeopathy - can it provide a different perspective?

Off course putting 160000 turkeys in a shed is a healthy, pleasant experience for them particularly as we provide all their medication in their food - and anyone who thinks differently is obviously not scientifically trained - it must be the wild birds causing the epidemic as they come into all sorts of unnatural substances like fresh air and sunlight! And we should all dip into our pockets and reimburse Bernard for his terrible loss of profits and his altruistic willingness to kill all his pet birds (sorry cull - I think it means they send them to a farm for a holiday!).

If you agree with all of the above do not bother to read on but just send donations to the 'Seroxat is good for young people' fund. However if you are concerned we might be being told a tiny white lie then read on.

Why do we suffer from Influenza and cold viruses?

Without breathable air, we cannot survive for more than a few minutes. Air enters through the nose and mouth, throat and bronchials and into the lungs. The upper respiratory system warms, humidifies and to some extent purifies the air entering the body (e.g. by removing dust particles with nasal hairs). This system can be damaged by pollution and invaded by bacteria and viruses, which stimulate the moist membranes to produce extra mucus as protection. This mucus can quickly develop into catarrh. Colds coughs and sinusitis show varying degrees of discharge that can affect the ear, nose and throat in acute situations and these can develop into chronic conditions (especially with suppressive treatment).

Influenza (flu)

Influenza and cold viruses are actually different but people often confuse them as most of the symptoms are similar. There is generally an infection of the lungs and airways, causing a fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, headache, muscle aches, and a general feeling of illness. There are two types of influenza virus, type A and type B, and many different strains within each type. The illnesses produced by the different types and strains are similar. The strain of influenza virus causing outbreaks is always changing, so every year the influenza virus is a little different from the previous years.

The key difference is that Influenza is caused by a different virus and produces symptoms that are more severe. Also, influenza affects cells much deeper down in the respiratory tract. Influenza virus is spread by inh aling droplets that have been coughed or sneezed out by an infected person or by having direct contact with an infected person's secretions.

Every year, throughout the world, widespread outbreaks of influenza occur during late autumn or early winter. Influenza occurs in epidemics, in which many people get sick all at once. In each epidemic, usually only one strain of influenza virus is responsible for the disease. Strains are often named after the first location (for example, Hong Kong flu) or animal (for example, swine flu) in which it was found. The current panic is Bird Flu.

Like humans and other species, birds are susceptible to flu. There are many types of bird, or avian, flu. The most contagious strains, which are usually fatal in birds, are H5 and H7. There are nine different types of H5. The nine all take different forms - some are highly pathogenic, while some are pretty harmless. The type currently causing concern is the "highly pathogenic" Asian strain of the H5N1 virus. Scientists have discovered four different subtypes of H5N1, and there could well be more. However, all are deadly to birds, and can cause disease - and death - in humans.

However, it is important to stress that H5N1 is overwhelmingly a disease that affects birds - and not humans. It is true that humans have been infected, but almost all have been poultry workers who have come into intimate contact with birds. H5N1 cannot pass easily from human to human.

Allopaths generally assume that people who have respiratory disorders are suffering from infections which are caused by viruses, bacteria or they may be suffering from external irritants such as dust or fumes that inflame the mucus membranes of the respiratory system. They tend not to take into consideration the patient's emotional state, diet or levels of toxicity nor look at hereditary influences.

The treatment given is firstly suppressive in nature (using anti biotic, anti virals, anti inflammatory, decongestants) or secondly through surgery (e.g. tonsillectomy) to remove the inflamed part. (Unless you are one the bootiful birds from Norfolk in which case they remove the head - oops - sorry I meant perform a culling operation)

Standard medical Treatment: There is no allopathic treatment for influenza so treatment is based on prevention in the form of the influenza vaccination which contains inactivated (killed) influenza virus or pieces of the virus.

Modern vaccines are designed to protect against three different strains of influenza virus. Different vaccines may be given every year to keep up with changes in the virus. Allopaths try to predict the strain of virus that will attack each year based on the strain of virus that predominated during the previous flu season and the strain causing disease in other parts of the world. They will also use several antiviral drugs to prevent infection with influenza virus. They may prescribe these drugs when a person has had recent exposure to someone with influenza. In addition, these drugs are used during epidemics of influenza to protect unvaccinated people who are at high risk of complications of influenza (older people and people with chronic illnesses).

The current allopathic advice on vaccinations (which is promoted by most governments) ignores the dangers of vaccinations, avoids mentioning any long term side effects and is basically an extremely one sided and distorted approach to the whole debate on prevention. The virus itself changes enough that vaccines are quite ineffective (but extremely profitable for the drug companies).

There is some evidence that the prevention programmes are creating the very problem they are designed to stop - there is obviously an economic incentive for the pharmaceutical companies to promote both panic and therefore pressure on governments. Unfortunately these suppressive acts often merely add to the problems the patient may already have. So is there an alternative?

Migratory wildfowl, notably wild ducks, are natural carriers of the viruses, but are unlikely to actually develop an infection. (There might be a message here - we all come into contact with bacteria and viruses all the time but only a small proportion are susceptible to them as our natural body defences protect us if we are basically healthy.

Thinking the unthinkable - is it completey bonkers to suspect that

a) as virus are found in birds (and us) all the time

b) that they continually mutate

c) stress lowers the immune system which protects us

we could conclude that Bird flu is a product of factory farming rather than an external foreign threat that attacks our luverly cuddly bootiful turkeys?

Can homeopathy provide a different perspective?

Homeopathy is an energetic medicine that comes from a completely different perspective to the so called 'scientific' medical based one.

From an energetic perspective dysfunction of the lung energy can lead to upper respiratory disorders such as:

· Common Cold/ coughs/ sore throat/ fullness in the chest/ Influenza

· Nose disorders/Rhinitis/ Sinusitis/Nasal Polyps

· Coryza /Catarrh

· Adenoid glands

· Tonsillitis

· Epiglottises

· Laryngitis

· Pharyngitis

· Croup

· Skin disorders (associated with weak lungs)

Homeopaths see all of these during their practice. They are able to distinguish clearly between 'acute' cases caused by flu and common colds, through to more chronic symptoms leading all the way up to potential life threatening situations.

The energetic view of disorders of the lungs (Upper & Lower respiratory disorders) is that they manifest on the external surfaces of the body. The symptoms will vary according to the depth to which they descend. From this perspective the causative factors are not organisms (microbes, viruses), but changes in the energetic balance, usually as a result of climatic factors, emotional states and dietary indiscretions, pollutants or hereditary influences etc. Lung disorders are seen as emotionally linked to grief/sadness at one end of the spectrum and courage/righteousness at the other.

(Off course Bernard's turkeys are all happy little turkeys so none of this applies to them - anyway whoever heard of an animal having feelings - what scientific nonsense - humans are completely and utterly different from animals and birds aren't we?)

Homeopaths place the emphasis on:

· the climatic factors

· susceptibility from a miasmatic perspective

· toxicity

· Emotional factors.

People with acute upper respiratory tract infections that have their symptoms suppressed by drug therapy or who have such conditions as part of their general state of health (e.g. chronic bronchitis from smoking) may develop lower respiratory disorders. In practice you will see many people who have developed lower respiratory tract disease following suppressive treatment of upper respiratory tract disease. If the patient's constitutional energy is strong, the problem is held in the superficial levels of the upper respiratory tract, the bowels or the skin and should not descend into the lower respiratory system.

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StandardNet

Influenza (Flu) Vaccine Clinics BU Today The Boston University Occupational Health Center will be holding Seasonal Influenza (Flu) Vaccine Clinics. We have plenty of vaccine and will be offering it at no cost to Boston University employees. Please walk-in during the dates and times listed ... Health officials: Lots of flu vaccine on handStandardNet KILLER FLU TO GRIP BRITAINExpress.co.uk Flu vaccine available one week earlier this yearThe Jeju Weekly ENC Today& -Monroe News Star& -Seguin Gazette-Enterprise all 35 news articles& »

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All my family members seem to have the influenza flue that has been going around. Luckily I was vaccinated in October but I was wondering what else can I do to protect myself from getting the flu from them? What other things can I do to protect myself?

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Can it happen only to high risk of aging people only?
How many people in US really had acute myocardial infarction from influenza flu annually?

myocarditis and the flu shot

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A Third H1N1 Pandemic Wave In 2010 Is Unlikely
(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- H1N1 – frequently referred to as swine flu by the public – is a subtype of influenza A virus. This novel infectious disease was the most common cause of human influenza (flu) in 2009, and has caused nearly 17,000 deaths by the start of 2010. A recent study however suggests that a third pandemic wave is unlikely, stating worldwide flu activity is expected to return to ...

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This patient education video discusses the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of flu.

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No excuse not to get a flu shot Toronto Star As a practising physician, I'm very concerned that there is any hesitation about getting protected against influenza. Flu is a socially transmitted disease that doesn't discriminate. Anyone can get it and it can lead to some pretty severe respiratory ... 2-seat rule might keep you healthy on your next tripmsnbc.com Pharma firm trashes vaccine stock, cuts outputDaily News & Analysis Swine Flu: know the symptomsBulawayo24 The Swazi Observer& -The Mercury.co.za (subscription)& -MyHealthNewsDaily all 20 news articles& »

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What causes the flu?

The flu is caused by influenza viruses A and B. There are different strains, or types, of the flu virus every year.

Influenza (flu) is a viral infection. People often use the term “flu” to describe any kind of mild illness, such as a cold or a stomach virus, that has symptoms like the flu. But the real flu is different. Flu symptoms are usually worse than a cold and last longer. The flu usually does not cause vomiting or diarrhea.

Most flu outbreaks happen in late fall and winter.

What are the symptoms?

The flu causes a fever, body aches, a headache, a dry cough, and a sore or dry throat. You will probably feel tired and less hungry than usual. The symptoms usually are the worst for the first 3 or 4 days. But it can take 1 to 2 weeks to get completely better.

It usually takes 1 to 4 days to get symptoms of the flu after you have been around someone who has the virus.

Most people get better without problems. But sometimes the flu can lead to a bacterial infection, such as an ear infection, a sinus infection, or bronchitis. In rare cases, the flu may cause a more serious problem, such as pneumonia.

Certain people are at higher risk of problems from the flu. They include young children, pregnant women, older adults, and people with long-term illnesses or with impaired immune systems that make it hard to fight infection.

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The flu vaccine is produced every year from the US. This flu vaccine is commonly know as influenza vaccine. Influenza vaccine contains a small amount of flu virus which helps your body produce antibodies to help fight off the flu.

So how well does the vaccine work? That really depends on a close a match the influenza is to the current strains of flu in the year. Years where the vaccine has had a close match the vaccine is quite effective. Studies show around 70 to 90% effective. Some other years the match was not close and the vaccines were not very effective. The influenza shot has to be taken every year because the flu strain changes every year.

The groups that are recommended to take the flu vaccine are people generally in closed environments where the flu can spread rapidly through out the facility. Places such as nursing homes and jails are places where influenza shots should be given. Elderly adults of age 65+ and adults with weak immune systems benefits the most form the vaccine since their own immune system is not as strong. Caregivers of nursing homes, hospitals and jails should also get the flu shot. Younger adults with healthy immune systems have really no medical need of taking the influenza vaccine. There is some debate whether the flu shot should be taken at all. The side effects of the vaccine may be worse than the flu to begin with. There is also no guarantee the flu vaccine will even work. The shot also has to be taken every year. This vaccine has been proven not to be effective some of the past years as well.

Children under 6 months are too young to be given a flu shot. Flu shots from young children have shown questionable benefits. Most children have a strong immune system so they should be able to fight off the flu themselves. Caregivers to new born infants should take the flu shot to help prevent the flu reaching new borns.

Side effects from the flu vaccine are generally not too severe. Side effects include redness, soreness, aches and possibly a minor fever. On rare occasion, a person may be allergic to the flu vaccine. In these cases, the person must be taken to the hospital immediately for treatment.

Homeopathic influenzium is basically the influenza vaccine in a diluted form. Just like the vaccine, this homeopathic medicine should be bought every year. Classical homeopaths sometimes recommend this medicine to fight or prevent the flu. However, since classical homeopathy is individualized not all homeopaths will recommend this type of remedy. Homeopathic doctors may recommend other single remedies to help fight the flu.

No clinical trials are available on homeopathic influenzium. No one really knows whether it can prevent the flu. People also are not sure if it may shorten the duration of the flu. The pills should be taken regularly throughout the flu season to help prevent or lessen the flu. These pills can also be taken to lessen the side effects from the flu vaccine.

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What is Avian Influenza?

As the name suggests, avian influenza refers to the infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. These viruses are commonly found in intestines of wild birds and these birds can carry the viruses without getting sick. However the viruses can be pathogenic to domesticated birds like chickens, ducks and turkeys. Domesticated birds become infected through exposure to other birds or through surfaces contaminated by secretions and faeces of the infected birds.

These viruses are classified as Low Pathogenicity and High Pathogenicity. Most strains of Avian Influenza come under Low Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (LPAI) Group and produce mild symptoms in the infected birds. Common symptoms are ruffled feathers, decreased food appetite, decreased egg production, sneezing and coughing. Many times LPAI may go undetected.

High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) has more severe symptoms which include sudden death, loss of energy and appetite, decreased egg production, respiratory problems, facial oedema (swelling), poorly formed eggs and diarrhoea. HPAI can reach a mortality rate of nearly 100%.

What Is H5N1 strain of Bird Flu?

All flu viruses are classified as type A, B or C depending on their structural arrangement. Type A is responsible for lethal pandemics and is found in both animals and humans. Type B causes local outbreaks of flu. Type C is the most stable of the three and infected people show only mild symptoms of flu. Type B and C are usually found only in humans. Type B and C are more stable than type A and are not classified according to their subtypes.

Influenza viruses of type A are divided into subtypes and the naming is done on the basis of two proteins (antigens) found on their surface - Hemagglutinin (HA) and Neuraminidase (NA). Sixteen types of HA and nine types of NA exist. Thus a total 144 combinations are possible.

Thus H5N1 is a type A virus and gets its name from HA 5 protein and NA 1 protein present on its surface.

How Do Type A Viruses Cause A Pandemic?

Type A viruses are further classified into strains. These strains can continuously evolve into different strains. Their ability to exchange genetic material with other viruses and create new influenza viruses makes them unpredictable and difficult to fight with. Humans have to develop new immunity (antibodies) every time new strains are created.

Viruses cannot repair genetic damage, small changes known as "Antigen Drift", are continuously creating new strains of viruses. However when genetic material from Type A viruses from different species - say a bird and a human, comes together and merges, an entirely new strain is created. This is known as "Antigen Shift" Humans have no immunity to such a strain and the strain can spread rapidly causing a Pandemic.

How Is The Virus Transmitted To Humans From Birds?

Usually Avian Influenza viruses do not infect humans. Migratory birds act as carriers of these viruses and do not get affected by them. These birds then come in contact with domesticated birds such as chickens and turkeys and spread the infection to them. Domesticated birds may get the virus from contact with contaminated surfaces too. Once a virus infects domesticated birds, it can cause severe epidemic among the birds. Humans come in contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces and pick up the virus.

In the human body, this avian flu virus then undergoes an antigenic shift, combines with genetic material of a human strain of influenza virus and creates an entirely new strain of virus against which humans have little or no immunity. These genetic reassortments may also take place is the body of a third species (susceptible to both avian and human viruses) like the pig, where an avian influenza A virus and human influenza virus mix their genetic information and produce a new virus which might be able to infect humans.

Why is H5N1 dangerous?

The first reported cases of H5N1 infections were detected in geese in 1997 in Southern China. A total of 18 human infections were reported and six of them succumbed to it. The infection spread quickly to poultry in Hong Kong. At that time a million and half chickens were culled in Hong Kong to keep the virus under control. The virus disappeared for a few years, but resurfaced in 2002 in Hong Kong again. Since then it has killed millions of birds in Asia and many cases of human infections have been reported.

The persistence of this H5N1 strain of virus is a great concern for humans. Although the virus does not spread from birds to humans easily, the severity of the infection of H5N1 in humans is frightening. The virus has killed every second person infected by it. These cases were reported in perfectly healthy individuals who had no past history of infections. However the greater concern for the world is the POSSIBILITY THAT THE VIRUS MAY MUTATE (UNDERGO ANTIGENIC SHIFT) AND CREATE A FORM THAT MAY SPREAD FROM HUMAN TO HUMAN. Such a strain of virus may result in a pandemic, killing millions of people worldwide.

Is Consumption Of Poultry Birds Safe?

Yes, it is safe to consume THOROUGHLY COOKED poultry products. The H5N1 virus is sensitive to heat and gets destroyed by normal cooking temperatures of 70- 100 degree Celsius. If meat from poultry birds and eggs are cooked properly, the virus will be destroyed. Just make sure that no part of the meat remains raw or uncooked.

How Big Is The Risk Of A Pandemic Breaking Out?

The world had to face a Bird Flu Pandemic, thrice in the twentieth century. In 1918-1919, "Spanish Flu" killed anywhere between 20 million to 50 million people (exact figures not known), including half a million in the United States alone. The "Asian flu" in 1957-58 killed 70,000 in the United States and in 1968-1969, the "Hong Kong flu" killed 34,000 in the USA.

Currently the risk of H5N1 strain leading to a Pandemic is high. The virus is spreading fast to new areas and the efforts made to curtail it have proved inadequate.

Domestic ducks have now become a "reservoir" for the virus. They are acting like a carrier for the virus - their bodies carry the virus without showing signs of any infection. Infected ducks then release large quantities of the virus in pathogenic form in their excretions spreading the virus to other birds or humans. This has made detection of the virus difficult especially in rural areas.

According to health experts, the virus has already met the first two prerequisites for starting a pandemic. First it has attained a form, for which humans have no inbuilt immunity; and second, it has proved pathogenic enough to cause serious illness and death in humans.

The present risk of a pandemic is very high. The only factor that has prevented a pandemic so far is that the virus has not mutated into a form that would allow it to transmit efficiently from one human to another. Once such a genetic change takes place for the virus, a pandemic will be inevitable. The first signs of such a reassortment will be presence of the clusters of patients with flu symptoms, closely related - both in time and space. This would be a clear indication of virus having the ability to transmit from human-to-human.

Currently no vaccine has been developed for fighting H5N1 strain. Simultaneous work is being done in many countries for developing a vaccine, but no success has been achieved. The exact virus that may cause the pandemic cannot be predetermined. Thus mass production of vaccine before the pandemic starts is ruled out. The worldwide manufacturing capacity is inadequate to match the sudden demand surge during a pandemic. The best that scientists can do is to carry out a study and determine the smallest amount of antigen per dose that will provide sufficient protection and thus maximise the number of vaccines produced.

What Are The Precautions Necessary To Prevent A Pandemic?

The logical first step is to control the disease from spreading among birds, but this seems a difficult task now. Bird Flu has become a bird epidemic in many parts of Asia and is spreading fast.

The Next step is to prevent the disease from getting passed on to humans. People who come in close contact with birds (like poultry farmers) are advised to keep a close watch on the health of birds, notify any sort of sickness in birds to the health authorities and avoid direct contact with sick birds in all cases. (Ducks have become a reservoir for the virus and may not exhibit signs of sickness even if they are carrying the virus.)

In case the flu becomes a pandemic, most countries of the world will be affected. In such a scenario, the best preventive measures would be personal hygiene, avoiding crowded places and staying away from raw meat and eggs.

A flu shot does not prevent bird flu, but it can protect a person from other forms of flu and avoid complications. Persons above 65 years of age, children, health services workers, people with chronic respiratory disorders, travellers to flu affected countries and pregnant women may consult a doctor regarding flu vaccination.

What Are The Symptoms In Humans and Treatment Options For Bird Flu?

A person infected by bird flu may have all symptoms of common flu like fever, persistent cough, sore throat and body ache. Moreover, there is a high risk of complications such as pneumonia, bronchitis, eye and ear infections and severe breathing problems.

Presently four drugs are used to combat influenza.

The most effective drugs known for seasonal flu are Oseltamivir (commercial name Tamiflu) and Zanamavir (Commercial name Relenza). Both of these are known to reduce severity and duration of seasonal flu, but they may prove ineffective if the virus is allowed to stay in the body for too long. Health professionals advise that TREATMENT OF FLU WITH THESE DRUGS SHOULD START WITHIN 48 HOURS OF FIRST APPEARANCE FLU SYMPTOMS.

Oseltamivir and Zanamavir fall in the Neuraminidase inhibitors class. The surface protein Neuraminidase breaks bonds between new viruses and infected cells. By blocking the activity of Neuraminidase, these two drugs prevent the new viruses from being released.

Another class of drugs - the M2 inhibitors is also available, but viruses develop resistance to these drugs quickly and thus these drugs may prove ineffective in controlling pandemics. Amantadine and Rimantadine are two drugs from this class. These drugs inhibit the activity of M2 protein, which forms a channel in membranes of viruses and thereby preventing the viruses from replicating.

One should consult a doctor before taking any of these drugs as THESE DRUGS ARE KNOWN TO HAVE SIDE EFFECTS IN SOME CASES. For example, Zanamavir is not recommended to people having chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma.

(This article was written on 25th January 2006 and may not contain developments that took place after this date.)

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