Q: What is bird fluA: Birds can suffer from flu, just like humans, and there are 15 types of bird - or avian - flu, which is a highly infectious disease.
The most contagious strains are H5 and H7 and these are usually fatal to birds. The most severe form of the disease was last confirmed in the United Kingdom in 1992
Q: Why is there such concern about itA: Most types of bird flu do not affect humans, but H5N1 - the strain that has arisen in the Far East, eastern Europe and was confirmed in the parrot - can be fatal to humans.
About 60 people out of 120 confirmed cases have died from the deadly strain, all in South East Asia. Scientists fear the virus may genetically mutate into a form that is easily spread between humans and thus cause a potentially catastrophic pandemic
Q: How do humans catch bird fluA: The virus is passed from infected birds through their saliva and faeces.
It was thought it could only infect birds, until the first human cases were reported in Hong Kong in 1997. Humans are likely to contract the disease after close contact with infected birds, most likely poultry
Q: What are the symptoms in humansA: They are similar to other types of flu - fever, sore throats, coughs and muscle ache - as well as more serious conditions of eye infections, pneumonia and severe respiratory diseases
Q: Can bird flu be passed from human to humanA: There is anecdotal evidence from the Far East that it can - but only among close relatives
Myth: I should stop eating chickenA: The primary way humans can become infected with bird flu is by coming in direct contact with infected poultry and/or surfaces contaminated with their droppings. You cannot get the virus by eating chicken or other poultry or their eggs.
In the very few cases of human-to-human bird flu transmission, the method of transmission cannot be confirmed but likely came by breathing in the contaminated breath droplets from the infected patient, not through food.
Myth: Antibiotics will help me avoid bird fluA: Antibiotics won't help you avoid contracting either the usual human flu or bird flu. Antibiotics are used to treat infections that are caused by bacteria and are of no use against viruses.
Myth: Getting a flu shot now will help me in a flu pandemicA: Flu vaccines are reformulated each year to counter one specific virus strain. Since we still don't know which strain will cause the next flu pandemic, it is not yet possible to create a vaccine.
Still, vaccine manufacturers are doing the foundation work to develop a vaccine to H5N1. But even if a vaccine can be developed, it would take many months to mass-produce and distribute. And it seems unlikely that manufacturers will be able to meet demand. That's why more attention is being paid to antivirals as the first line of attack in the event of a pandemic.
As for the flu shot, the regular human flu still kills hundreds of people a year in Canada, so getting the flu shot remians important for those most at risk, such as the elderly.
Myth: Taking Tamiflu now will help me avoid bird fluA: Tamiflu is an antiviral medication, and while it may reduce the severity and duration of influenza, it is not a vaccination and may not prevent infection.
As well, widespread inappropriate use of antivirals could lead to the development of resistant strains of flu, just as not taking antibiotics properly can lead to more virulent strains of bacteria.
sources: Birmingham Post; Birmingham (UK) and Angela Mulholland, CTV.ca News
# posted by gageism @ 12:47 pm
