Bird Flu- Prevention and Treatments
Bird Flu- Prevention and Treatments
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.