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Bird Flu
Questions and answers related to H5N1 Bird Flu (Avian Flu). It is an extremely virulent influenza virus that can infect birds, occasionally pigs, rarely infections in other animals, and very rarely humans. Fortunately, it does not spread very easily, and only extremely rare human to human transmissions have been known to occur. No instance of the virus spreading beyond a first generation of close human contacts has been reported. It does, however, have a very high mortality rate in animals and in humans (60% death rate in humans).
193 Questions
A Type A influenza virus causes Avian "bird" Flu. The specific virus strains of bird flu that infect humans are called Avian influenza, A-H5N1 virus and Avian influenza, A-H7N9 (newly identified in humans near Easter Sunday 2013 in China). Viruses can change or mutate over time. The strain of avian bird flu that caused the scare in Europe was H5N1. There are many different types (subtypes) of this virus, but the one that has been in the news the most is H5N1 because it infects not only birds but can also infect humans, killing them in 50 to 60% of the cases. It is not easily transmitted from person to person, so it has not spread in humans like other types of influenza have so far.
Additional information:
Although they can be considered organisms, they are not living organisms, for that reason not all scientists classify a virus as a "microbe". Most of them do for lack of a better way to talk about them instead of "germ" or other less specific nomenclature. As stated above, unlike the other organisms called microbes, they are not living organisms. They are specialized groups of "cells" that perform functions working in an organized way, but they latch on to and break into a living host's cells and use the life, energy, and nutrients from the host in an almost parasitic way. The genetic material that they have stored inside themselves combines with that of the host's cells to cause the host cells to stop reproducing more cells like itself for the host. Instead, the virus instructs them to start making duplicate viruses like the one that invaded the host.
H5N1 is an extremely virulent influenza virus that can infect birds, occasionally pigs, rarely infections in other animals, and very rarely humans. Fortunately, it does not spread very easily, and only extremely rare human to human transmissions have been known to occur. No instance of the virus spreading beyond a first generation of close human contacts has been reported. It does, however, have a very high mortality rate in animals and in humans (60% death rate in humans).
Yes, people can catch it from contact with the excrement or saliva of infected birds. It can be passed from human to human but only very rarely and only when they are living in very close physical contact, e.g., living in the same home.
What is the difference between Flu A and Flu B?
They are caused by two different kinds of viruses. There are three types of influenza viruses that have been classified according to the types of proteins they have. There are Type A, Type B, and Type C influenza viruses. Type A and B each have many different strains. Type C does not.
Type A influenza is one of the more common types we see in the seasonal flu among humans and it is also a very common type that many other animals get. It has subtypes and strains that differ, which is why having one subtype will not give you immunity from all the other subtypes and strains.
Type B influenza is also a common type among humans and is found only in humans. It is not divided into subtypes but there are multiple strains.
Type C has been found in humans, pigs, and dogs. The symptoms are usually very mild, milder than those of Type A and B influenza viruses, and it typically doesn't cause epidemics. It is not divided into different subtypes or strains.
What is bird flu and can it be transmitted to humans?
People can get bird flu fairly easily from contact with sick birds or their saliva or feces. This is very rare worldwide, however, so far. Additionally, it is almost never passed from human to human, only very rare cases have been reported to have been transmitted that way. It is a property of the individual influenza viruses that determines how easily it is transmitted. H1N1/09, for example, is very contagious and easily transmitted from person to person, while H5N1 is not.
What happed in 1914 flu pandemic?
Countries had a more difficult time rebuilding following World War I.
How long does avian influenza last?
It is estimated that 50 to 60 % of those who have the Avian Flu do not survive. For some, the illness takes them quickly with overwhelming fluids filling in the lungs, others may need long term intervention and ventilator support, and even induced coma, to just survive.
How does a virus spread from one host to another?
First, the virus hijacks the cell and makes it become a virus-making factory. As new virus particles are created in the cell, eventually they fill the cell to the point of bursting open. When this happens, the particles are released where they can then each attach to and hijack a new cell, and the process repeats until your immune system creates the needed antibodies to stop the new viruses from being able to attach to and infect new cells.
What are you talking about? You typed the same exact thing? Yes it's the same, it's Bird Flu aka Avian Flu, and technically called H5N1. Your question is confusing, it takes on the same characteristics as the following mock question. Does CONFUSING mean the same thing as confusing? Hope that helped buddy.
What birds did bird flu affect?
All known subtypes of influenza A viruses circulate among wild birds, which are the natural hosts for influenza A viruses. H5N1 a subtype of influenza A viruses affects bird population all over Asia.Infected birds shed viruses in saliva, nasal secretions and feces. H5N1 infection in man may be because of contact with infected poultry.
In Asia with H5N1 outbreaks must avoid poultry farms and any surface contaminated with feces from poultry. All birds can get flu.
How was the spanish flu transmitted to humans?
Like the other influenza viruses, it was mostly spread from human to human. They are primarily spread through respiratory droplets from sneezes and coughs, picking the virus up from a surface that someone with the flu had touched and other direct contact with infected people or things they had handled.
Who is the most at risk for the avian flu?
The avian flu or the bird flu is common in humans and other mammals. The U.S. now has a vaccine to prevent the disease and treatment is more effective than ever.
What do you do if you have bird flu?
Go immediately to a hospital emergency room. However, this is an extremely rare disease so you are very unlikely to have it.
H5N1 is the name of the virus that causes Avian "Bird" Flu. It is very rare among humans and transmission from human to human is still an almost non-existent occurrence and then in very few locations of the world. In some developing countries, where it is common to have free roaming poultry that even are allowed to roost and live inside homes, the disease is occurring in humans, but it is still very rare. There has never been a case of Avian Flu in the US either in animals or in birds, and the UK has been declared free of this virus after a onetime outbreak among birds in the past.
The viral disease is very aggressive and rapidly debilitates anyone who has become infected. They would need immediate medical care. Even with the most prompt and advanced care, however, approximately 60% of humans who have had the disease have died.
For the 2012 -2013 Flu Season in the Northern Hemisphere, the H1N1 vaccine is included in the "regular" seasonal flu shot that is trivalent (contains vaccine for three different types of flu). The contents are for the most part the same as listed in the answer below. Also see the related links and related questions sections below for some additional in formation.
Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine is formulated to contain 15 mcg HA per 0.5 mL dose of influenza A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)v-like virus.
The single-dose formulation is preservative-free; thimerosal, a mercury derivative, is not used in the manufacturing process for this formulation. The multi-dose formulation contains thimerosal, added as a preservative; each 0.5 mL dose contains 24.5 mcg of mercury.
A single 0.5 mL dose of Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine contains sodium chloride (4.1 mg), monobasic sodium phosphate (80 mcg), dibasic sodium phosphate (300 mcg), monobasic potassium phosphate (20 mcg), potassium chloride (20 mcg), and calcium chloride (1.5 mcg). From the manufacturing process, each dose may also contain residual amounts of sodium taurodeoxycholate (≤ 10 ppm), ovalbumin (≤ 1 mcg), neomycin sulfate (≤ 0.2 picograms [pg]), polymyxin B (≤ 0.03 pg), and beta-propiolactone (< 25 nanograms).
The rubber tip cap and plunger used for the preservative-free, single-dose syringes and the rubber stoppers used for the multi-dose vial contain no latex.
How many people have died from Avian Flu compared to Swine Flu?
A relatively low number of people have died from Avian flu. It is transmitted only from bird to human, not from person to person, unlike the Swine flu that is a very rapidly spreading virus from person to person with over 57 million cases in the US alone. The death rate for swine flu is below that of the seasonal flu. Although the number of cases of Avian flu in humans is low so far, the mortality rate from the H5N1 Avian flu is approximately 50%, it is an extremely deadly virus. Luckily so far the case numbers are still low, especially in the Western Hemisphere.
That is the story that began circulating in July 2006. See the article below in the links section for more information. The DJ, DJ Lewis, from Abijan on Africa's Ivory Coast, supposedly said that he did start the dance, and is credited with the following quotes:
"People will have to dance it, they have no choice!
"I am telling people to dance it to chase away their fears, and eat more chicken."
"I created the dance to bring happiness to the hearts of Africans, and to chase away fear, the fear of eating chicken" he told the BBC.
"If we kill all our chickens and poultry, our cousins in the village will become poor."
"So I created the bird flu dance to put joy back into our hearts."
What are reasons people should worry about bird flu?
People involved in epidemiology have continued to be concerned about the Avian Flu because it has such a high mortality rate. In humans, the mortality rate is as high as 50%. Luckily, it is not spread from human to human. It has also been a concern during the H1N1/09 Pandemic Swine Flu because of the potential for extremely high death rates if the Avian Flu would mutate with the Swine Flu to make it able to be passed easily from human to human like the pandemic flu does. This was of special concern since some of the genetic material in this novel swine flu is derived from Avian Flu viruses.
What efforts are health officials in the US making to prepare for a possible bird flu pandemic?
On July 9, 2009, the US Administration held a summit on how to prepare for the upcoming fall flu season with anticipation that there will be continued outbreaks of the Novel H1N1 in addition to the seasonal flu as usual in this time of year. See the government's one stop "Swine Flu" information site at flu.gov for full details. Excerpts from the Health and Human Services news release about the topic are provided below:
"We ask the American people to become actively engaged with their own preparation and prevention. It's a responsibility we all share."
"White House Homeland Security Advisor John Brennan, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan joined with delegations from 54 states, tribes and territories today at the H1N1 Influenza Preparedness Summit at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., to kick-off the government's nation-wide fall flu preparedness efforts."
"The Obama Administration sent a strong message to the nation today that it is time to start planning and preparing for the fall flu season and the ongoing H1N1 flu outbreak and that the federal government is prepared to commit resources, training, and new tools to help state and local governments and America's families get ready."
"Effectively dealing with a potential H1N1 outbreak requires all of us -- parents, educators, health providers, and local, state and federal governments -- working together on our emergency management plan," said Education Secretary Duncan. "Today's Flu Summit is an important step in that direction. Our primary goals at the Department of Education are the health and well being of students, faculty and staff, and ensuring that, in the event of any school closures, the learning process will continue. "
"Throughout the one-day summit, Administration officials laid out specific ways that states and local governments could start their planning and preparation efforts and announced new programs and resources to help state and local governments, the medical community and every day America prepare for H1N1 and the fall flu season."
"... HHS will make available preparedness grants worth a total of $350 million...the federal government will centralize communications about H1N1 and seasonal flu on ... www.flu.gov... This one-stop comprehensive site... builds on the pandemic planning information... on www.pandemicflu.gov, and incorporates information about the novel H1N1 flu as well as the seasonal flu."
---- ---- FLU RESOURCE KIT FOR PLANNING AND PREPARING FOR FLU SEASON AVAILABLE AT FLU.GOV.
See link in link section below.
The Resource Kit will be regularly updated with new information and tools as more is learned about the H1N1 virus and the upcoming flu season.
(available in English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish versions)
---- === === (Available in 10 languages, see link below) Includes things such as stocking home with over the counter medications (such as cough medicine, fever reducers, anti diarrheal meds, etc), food and water to avoid having to go into public no more often than necessary, prepared foods so no cooking is required while the homemaker is ill, have a supply of prescription meds always on hand, plan for extra caregiver help in case entire family is ill at once, volunteer to help in the community and to help neighbors if they need extra caregivers, learn how to prevent infection and avoid spreading germs, use the forms provided in the kit to document medical history information and emergency contact information, keep good supply of necessary paper products and tissues, a thermometer, garbage bags, cleaning supplies and handwashing soaps and gels, garbage bags, sports drinks, etc.
---- === === === === === === === === HHS is launching a new PSA campaign contest to encourage more Americans to get involved in the nation's flu preparedness efforts by making a 15-second or 30-second PSA. Officials at the summit stressed the idea of "shared responsibility" when it comes to combating the flu and the goal of the new HHS PSA campaign contest is to tap into the nation's creativity to help educate Americans about how to plan for and prevent the spread of H1NI influenza. HHS will evaluate submissions and will present the best PSAs back to the public so everyone can vote on their favorite submission. The winning PSA will receive $2,500 in cash and will appear on national television. Contest details as well more information about the larger effort to plan and prepare for the flu season are available at www.flu.gov.
How does the bird flu get in your body?
All viruses follow the same basic steps referred to as the lytic cycle.
First the Flu, or Swine Flu in this case, enters the body through close contact with an infected person (nose, mouth, eyes or breaks in the skin)
LYTIC CYCLE:
* Step 1-A virus attaches to a host cell. * Step 2- The virus breaks through the host cell's membrane (phospholipid bilayer) and releases its genetic instructions into the cell. * Step 3- The injected genetic material starts controlling the host cell's enzymes * Step 4-The 'zombie' enzymes start making parts for more new viruses. * Step 6- The new virus particles assemble into fresh new viruses. * Step 7-The new particles break out of the host cell and infect other cells in the body
Click on the links below for more information from Answers.com and HowStuffWorks.com From the Wikipedia article: Influenza viruses bind through hemagglutinin onto sialic acid sugars on the surfaces of epithelial cells; typically in the nose, throat and lungs of mammals and intestines of birds.
Has anyone died from bird flu?
Yes. To date (14-11-08) there have been 245 human deaths due to Bird flu (H5N1)
The same as any other virus strain of influenza, avoid direct person to person contact with an infected person, wash hands frequently, and avoid touching your face, eyes, nose, or mouth with your unwashed hands. See the related questions below for more information on avoiding viruses.
How many people caught bird flu?
only birds could have bird flu. it passed on from bird to bird through touch or their s hit. if anothere bird got sh at on by a bird with bird flue that bird would have it.
How do you tell if a bird has bird flu?
* You can't tell if a bird has Bird Flu.
* But the only way you can get Bird Flu is when you get in close contact with a bird.
* Even a pet bird could posibly have it, but only if it came from the wild.
* Only an infected bird can pass it on to dogs, cats, even humans or any other living thing.
