What Is Avian Flu?
H5N1. This string of numbers and letters - representing a strain of avian influenza, or bird flu - has the international public health community deeply concerned. Avian Flu is often spread by migratory birds.In recent years, sporadic cases of bird flu have affected poultry. This Flu is most ominous when the virus mutates to affect humans, and this is what seems to have happened. The alarm bell began to ring when people came in contact with the infected chicken and fell ill immediately. This was the first major case of Avian Flu. The the World Health Organization (WHO) took note of this situation and took some timely preventive measures.There are several strains of avian influenza but the bird flu poses the greatest threat to humans.Though bird flu generally does not infect humans, several cases have been reported since 1997. Because of its unique ability to mutate rapidly and acquire genes from viruses infecting other animal species, bird flu is very dangerous.
If the virus starts spreading sporadically the situation may become dire. Many experts predict a worldwide epidemic that could rival the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. With the increase in modern air travel, the virus could spread throughout the world in a matter of weeks or days.
Eventually Science will come up with a vaccine to contain the pandemic, but will everyone have the comfort of getting this vaccine right away. Tragically, such a situation holds the potential to intensify the divisions between the world's rich and poor. While wealthier nations would have access to limited supplies of vaccines and antiviral drugs, the poor would suffer for lack of treatment.
Apparenlty there already is a virus in US. A vaccine will be created in India soon.
ReplyDeleteI think avian flu is second only to much bigger threats like AIDS, Cancer and tuberculosis.
And I thought I was the only Virologist in the Gang!!
ReplyDeletePpl HAVE to trust vaccines.. tats the only way we guys can suffer. Its been a hard task gettin patients for clinical trials .
The real potency/side effects of the vaacine cannot be completely assessed esp wit the genectic drift shown by such influenza strains!
I truely wish ppl trust us more than this and support we researchers!!
Good job with the info bhargoosa,
keep up the good work!
The actual story is tat a virus strain that affects birds and a virus that affects the swine combined-genetically modified itself, became more deadlier and then hit the human population.
ReplyDeleteIf u think we are smart-Think Twice!!