Bird Flu How To Protect Yourself
Bird Flu is spreading around the world as fast as wild birds
fly. The birds are carrying flu with them as they migrate. They
infect local, non migratory birds that in turn infect local
chickens, ducks, turkeys and so on.
Bird flu is spread to humans primarily by contact with chickens,
ducks and other poultry. But it is also spread by contact with
any other infected birds. So even if you live in the city, the
local pigeons can carry bird flu to your window sill.
Humans appear to become infected with the virus not by eating
infected poultry, but by contacting infected matter or preparing
them for consumption.
Dust and viral particles seem to be a primary cause of human
infection. "We believe those particles are inhaled and that's
how people become infected." said Dick Thompson, a spokesman for
the World Health Organization, in Geneva. He added, "It's very
difficult to stop the movement of this virus now."
Children are particularly at high risk to bird flu because they
may play where birds carrying bird flu may be found. And it is
not only contact with the infected birds that is a problem.
Feathers and feces carry the bird flu virus. So a child may
contact pigeon feces on a window sill, walk through it on a city
sidewalk, pick up some feathers or play with a neighbors caged
bird.
Likewise you may walk through pigeon or other bird feces and
unknowingly transport bird flu into your home.
The World Health Organization advises that you should not keep
pet birds, you should avoid contact with any live birds, feces,
feathers, waste or dead birds. You should wash your hands and
any clothes that may have come in contact with the bird flu
virus.
They also advise that you remove your shoes outside your house
to prevent bringing any bird flu virus into the house. To clean
your shoes, put plastic bags over your hands, cover your mouth
with a cloth and wear goggles. Clean them with soap and water
before you bring them into the house.
The World Health Organization advises that you do not eat dead
poultry. Now that is a rather amazing warning since it seems
that most people do not eat live chickens. And since many people
in the west buy their chickens, dead, in supermarkets, they are
unable to determine whether the chicken, in a live state had
bird flu or not. They must either take the appropriate cautions
about eating poultry or not eat it at all.
All chicken must be cooked so that there is no pink meat. The
internal temperature must reach at least 70 degrees centigrade
or above. The world health organization says that such meat is
safe to eat.
But the person preparing the food and the preparation area are
at risk from bird flu. So you may prepare the food well, but
contaminate your kitchen with bird flu.
The eggs in your refrigerator can be dangerous. Eggs can also
carry bird flu virus on their shells and inside their shells.
You should wash all eggs before putting them there and if you
break one, you should thoroughly cleanse the area.
The World Health Hrganization says that hard boiled eggs that
have been boiled at least 5 minutes and whose internal
temperature has exceeded 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Public health officials have recommended that people in regions
known to harbor avian influenza get vaccinated against human
forms of influenza. Practically speaking, the way that it is
spreading, that is everywhere.
There are 4 influenza drugs: amantadine and rimantadine which
help fight certain strains of H5N1 infections, and Tamiflu and
Relenza which are both drugs classified as neuraminidase
inhibitors and are said to help against most strains of H5N1. In
any case, it is wise to note at least the cautions in this
article and adhere to sanitary practices in general.
The World Health Organization has published a great deal of
information about bird flu that it wishes to be spread by NGOs
and the media. This article is written to support that effort.
You are asked to spread this information as far and as wide as
possible. Because sales of antiviral drugs, which might confer
protection, have outpaced manufacturers' ability to make them,
the information in this article is particularly important, so
please spread the word. Publish it and pass it on to your
friends and family. It may save someone's life - even your own.
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