Is H5N1 bird flu created by developed countries as a biological weapon?
104258
If it was, it is not effective.  Why would anyone create a virus that is not effective on humans?  Is there a government that is anti-bird?
1182174
Its real, but its a non-issue.\n\nBird flu is just BS by the Bush administration to distract people's attention away from the war in Iraq. Its not contageous among people. You have to be exposed to the dander of an infected bird.\n\nREALITY CHECK: Since 1998 when bird flu was discovered in Hong Kong......\n... About 100 people died from bird flu.\n... About 3,000,000 people died from regular flu.\n\nSo which flu do we need to worry about the most?
609595
No.  It's total fearmongering, just like the governments all over the world did with 9/11, and Anthrax in the mail etc...\n\nA virus cannot try to mutate.  It just does it.  Flu season for this year is almost over, and who knows what will happen in time for next flu season?
628774
They advise getting a pneumonia shot as many of the victims died from the pneumonia. Also get this\nLaboratory tests show Sambucol® neutralises Common and Avian Flu Virus H5N1 \nAdded: (Thu Jan 19 2006) \n\nNew research, carried out by Retroscreen Virology has indicated that \nSambucol®, a patented formula, may fight the virulent Avian Flu virus. Results have been presented yesterday, Wednesday, in a press conference held in the Royal Society of Medicine, London. Speakers included Prof. Hannoun, Emeritus Professor at the Pasteur Institute and Dr. Mumcuoglu, developer of Sambucol®. \n\nLaboratory trials held in a leading research institute, Retroscreen Virology \nLtd, associated with the University of London found Sambucol® to be at least \n99% effective against the Avian Flu virus H5N1. Sambucol® was effective at \nsignificantly neutralising the infectivity of the virus in cell cultures. These \nresults will also be presented during the International Conference on Bird Flu: \n“The First Pandemic of the 21st Century. A Central Role for Antivirals”, to be \nheld at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital on January 19th-20th 2006. \n\nDr. Madeleine Mumcuoglu, is looking into further investigations into the \nactivity of Sambucol® against Avian Flu on a wider scale. \n\nIn an earlier study (1995) Sambucol® was found to be effective against a wide range of influenza strains. Laboratory studies conducted at the Hebrew \nUniversity – Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem demonstrated the activity \nof Sambucol® against human, swine, and avian influenza strains. \nSambucol®'s efficacy was also demonstrated in two double blind, placebo \ncontrolled clinical studies. Sambucol® was shown to cut the duration and \nseverity of the common flu by up to half. \n\nENDS \n\nNotes to editors; \nSambucol® is based on an active substance isolated from the black elderberry. \nManufactured by Razei Bar Industries Israel, Sambucol® is available in 17 \ncountries and in the UK is sold in Tesco, leading chemists, independent health \nfood stores and wholesalers from £8.49. \n\nFor photography please visit the following site and enter the log in details: \nFTP address: ftp://pixelit.co.il \nuser name: ftp_razeibar \npassword: 63+84675 \n\n\nFor further press information please contact: Francesca Gaffey/Cheryl Davies, \nCommunique Public Relations, Waterside, No2 Canal Street, Manchester, M1 \n3HE. Tel: 0161 242 5120/0161 242 5108 Fax: 0161 228 7391 E-mail: \nfrancesca.gaffey@communiquepr.co.uk cheryl.davies@communiquepr.co.uk \n\nFor research information please visit: Retroscreen Virology Ltd. at: \nhttp://www.retroscreen.com/ \n\nFor product information please visit: \nRazei Bar Industries (1996) Ltd. At: www.sambucol.com
1119867
Europe set to announce task force on bird flu\nEU - Europe will shortly unveil a task force for coordinating the continent's fight against bird flu, a leading European virologist said at a conference on H5N1 avian influenza.  Reuters - Thursday, June 29, 2006\nEconomic impact of bird flu hinges on panic - experts\nWASHINGTON - The severity of a global economic slowdown caused by a bird flu pandemic, estimated to slash 1 to 12 percent off world output, largely depends on how people and governments react, economists said on Wednesday. Bloomberg - Thursday, June 29, 2006\nSevere Flu Pandemic May Cost Up to $2 Trillion, World Bank Says\nA flu outbreak killing 70 million people worldwide may cause global economic losses of as much as $2 trillion, a World Bank official said. \nA slump in tourism, transportation and retail sales, as well as workplace absenteeism and lower productivity, may cause the world economy to shrink by 3.1 percent, said Milan Brahmbhatt, a lead adviser in the East Asia region, citing a study by the Washington-based World Bank. The study predicted a surge in corporate bankruptcies in companies with a high level of debt to equity, such as airlines.  Reuters - Thursday, June 29, 2006\nSingapore lifts ban on Malaysian poultry imports\nSINGAPORE - Singapore will lift a ban on imports of poultry and poultry products from neighbouring Malaysia after Malaysia declared that it is free from bird flu, officials said on Wednesday. \nAfter a three-month suspension, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said it will lift the poultry import ban on the northern states of Perak and Selangor with effect from June 30.  The China Post - Wednesday, June 28, 2006\nClosing borders would be last bird flu option, U.S. official says\nUS - Closing U.S. borders would be the last option to combat the spread of bird flu, a senior State Department official said Monday. \nIt is far down the list of remedies because it would be unlikely to decrease the number of cases, would interrupt essential services and disrupt lawful border crossings, said Paula J. Dobriansky, undersecretary of state for democracy and global affairs. Bloomberg - Wednesday, June 28, 2006\nBird Flu Fatalities Almost Triple, Spurring Need for Treatments\nBird flu fatalities have almost tripled this year as the lethal virus spread across Asia, Europe and Africa, prompting calls for increased supplies of medicines to fight the virus and any pandemic it might spawn.  AND - Tuesday, June 27, 2006\nFear of bird flu panics Zambians\nZAMBIA - The mysterious death of wild birds this week has panicked Zambians, fearing the arrival of avian influenza in Zambia long-recognised as vulnerable to the deadly H5N1 virus. \nPoultry Association of Zambia executive director Mathews Ngosa said a delay by the government in confirming whether Zambia had become the seventh African country to suffer an outbreak has "killed our industry as people are now avoiding eating chickens".  People's Daily Online - Tuesday, June 27, 2006\nBangladesh takes emergency program to prevent avian influenza\nBANGLADESH - Bangladeshi government has taken up an emergency program to prevent spreading of avian influenza, widely known as bird flu virus, in Bangladesh, private news agency UNB reported Monday.  Food Production Daily - Monday, June 26, 2006\nScientists issue caution against mass poultry vaccination\nEU - With confirmed cases of human-to-human transmission of the avian influenza virus, scientists are now warning that mass vaccination of domestic poultry may hinder detection of the deadly H5N1 strain of the disease.  The Guardian - Sunday, June 25, 2006\nFirst cases found of avian flu caught from wild \nAZERBAIJAN - Four people have died after catching avian flu from infected swans, in the first confirmed cases of the disease being passed from wild birds, scientists have revealed.  Cidrap - Saturday, June 24, 2006\nH5N1 mutation allegedly showed human transmission in Indonesia\nINDONE
688534
Realistically, you get it from handling bird feces or from intimate contact with an infected bird (ie you handle a dead bird that has been cut open etc.)  Bird flu is an issue for those in the poultry industry....and then only in certain countries that don't follow sanitary procedures.  That's why it is so common in China but virtually unheard of in the US.  We have strict sanitary standards for the production of food in this country.  In China, most food production would be considered not fit for human consumption and illegal to sell, by our laws.
688560
the are creating an alliance with the chickens to create a massive killing spree against the humans... by spreading the bird flu they will be able to do that. they also are creating Atomic bombs to distroy united states... and blaim it on Iran... and causing an world war... thats what they are doing
258778
Most of our info is very speculative as of now, as when it comes to future mutations of the bird flue, all we have are our fears. Really, we're worried about a recurrance of the Spanish Flue, which killed millions in the early twentieth century. As of now however, there has been only one case of bird flue transmitted between people, the rest has been from bird to poultry worker (total infected is around 100 people I believe). The big deal is, from the infected we've seen, it has a 50% mortality rate, and this is before it's even fully evolved to attack humans.\n\nHowever, a good deal of this is speculation, as it is easily possible that many more have been infected and fealt no adverse effects, or nothing more than a cold. All the cases we now know about were severe enough to warrant hospitalization, but what if there are many more that never had to go to the hospital, and so we never learned about them?\n\nBut, with 2 mutations left to go to be fully suited to attack humans, the avian flue (H1N1) it can't be long until we know for sure.\n\nTo prevent this, people are attempting to quarentine and kill ay infected birds nd poultry, but as you can imagine, this is easier said than done. We're also stocking up on Tamiflu, which some say is our best shot at an antiviral for fighting this thing.\n\nThe Spanish Flu ended when it burned itself out. It moved so quickly that it killed off the more suceptable humans, and the tougher ones became immune. It had nowhere left to go, and died off. If the avian flu is anything like it, the same will happen, though our use of antivirals may hamper this.\n\nThese pandemics are a natural part of population control and evolution. Who can say what we do to our species when we do all we can to fight it, and keep it from having an impact upon us?
220354
As it stands right now, most people are safe from the bird flu. The other answers are right in that you have to handle infected birds to get the virus. Most of the time, we are safe from a virus that is carried by another species. Occasionally, however, a virus mutates in such a way that it is able to "jump species" and infect humans. When this happens, our immune system is little prepared to defend us from the unusual-type virus. The good news is that right now it can only pass from birds to humans. If it should mutate to the point that humans can pass it amongst themselves, then it will likely become pandemic. Therefore, the fears that people are having are based on "scientific possibility" and the government is responding to those fears; not creating the fear.
159160
UNITED NATIONS (AP) The spread of bird flu from Asia to eastern Europe and now west Africa has increased the chance the virus will mutate and set off a pandemic, the U.N. bird flu chief said. \nEach day the possibility of an Avian Flu pandemic comes dangerously closer. We want to help you and your family prepare before it strikes . The virus has now spread into 42 countries and the list is growing every day.  There is human-to-human spread (in spite of what you may have heard). The virus is seeking efficiency in human infection. There are now documented 'mixes' with other viruses. Because of Katrina, you would think governments would be handling this differently. But no, ultimately, nothing changes. There will be two types of people: Those who accept the fact that they are on their own, and those who think someone will come to save them and their family.\nThe progression of Avian Influenza into an efficient human-to-human form becomes statistically more likely every day. No one can prevent this epidemic, but we want to keep our families safe and protected in the event that the outbreak occurs. We are here for the realists. Helping others get past the obstacles and to create a plan for both avoiding infection and for having the proper supplies is our goal. We have put quite a lot of thought and preparation into what we (and many of our greatest scientists) believe may be inevitable.  \n\n \n\nIf a SuperFlu sweeps the globe, who will haul away the garbage? Who will grow, package, and transport food and other necessities? Stock and sell the groceries we need to survive? Protect us from criminals? Keep electricity, gas, and water flowing? We have only a small portion of the medical infrastructure we need to handle this. Within days, our health care system will be completely overwhelmed. Are you one of the people who can make intelligent decisions, and make it through this?\n\nGoto this site it will help you to prepare:\nhttp://www.planforflu.com/\n\nI hope this helped.....\n\nDon
1155222
The bird flu has not been spread outside Asia yet to my knowledge. It is possible from research studies of the Bird Flu that it could become airborne, spread through breathing, if that happens, a world panic would occur. Hopefully it doesn't and researchers will find a cure for it.
659818
I m neither a politician nor american.this is what the science is so read carefully.\n\nBird flu can be transmitted from infected birds to humans but not from human to human.\n\nH5N1 , the whole world is a potential target except any who have survived the infection(become immune)\n\nIf unfortunately, the genetic deal with flu viruses that can spread human to human ( God Help Us all), this would be a Pandemic.For reference all the previous flu pandemics were the result of this gene trade.So theratical risk is there.
222374
What's spooking the government, the scientists, and the media is that the bird flu is spreading very quickly, is very lethal, and has a very strong potential to mutate into a form that's transmissible from human to human. A good source of information about the bird flu is www.fluwikie.com.
1103892
No.  It started in Africa.  I mean, anything is possible, but why the government would want to play around with diseases is beyond me.  Realistically, no.
323958
Avian influenza in birds\nAvian influenza is an infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. These influenza viruses occur naturally among birds. Wild birds worldwide carry the viruses in their intestines, but usually do not get sick from them. However, avian influenza is very contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill them.\n\nInfected birds shed influenza virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Susceptible birds become infected when they have contact with contaminated secretions or excretions or with surfaces that are contaminated with secretions or excretions from infected birds. Domesticated birds may become infected with avian influenza virus through direct contact with infected waterfowl or other infected poultry, or through contact with surfaces (such as dirt or cages) or materials (such as water or feed) that have been contaminated with the virus.\n\nInfection with avian influenza viruses in domestic poultry causes two main forms of disease that are distinguished by low and high extremes of virulence. The “low pathogenic” form may go undetected and usually causes only mild symptoms (such as ruffled feathers and a drop in egg production). However, the highly pathogenic form spreads more rapidly through flocks of poultry. This form may cause disease that affects multiple internal organs and has a mortality rate that can reach 90-100% often within 48 hours.\n\nAvian Influenza A (H5N1)\nInfluenza A (H5N1) virus – also called “H5N1 virus” – is an influenza A virus subtype that occurs mainly in birds, is highly contagious among birds, and can be deadly to them. H5N1 virus does not usually infect people, but infections with these viruses have occurred in humans. Most of these cases have resulted from people having direct or close contact with H5N1-infected poultry or H5N1-contaminated surfaces.
468623
The highly pathogenic form of H5N1 avian influenza virus has not been found in wild birds in North America. \n\nIn 2005, a low pathogenic form of H5N1, which is not thought to pose a danger to poultry or humans, was found in wild ducks in Canada. There is a chance that infected wild birds from Asia could bring the highly pathogenic form of the virus with them during spring or fall migration to North America. \n\nThe US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Geological Survey (USGS), Alaska Department of Fish & Game, and public health agencies are working together to test thousands of waterfowl and shorebirds for the virus in Alaska, and field sampling is being integrated with surveillance programs throughout the United States and Canada.
605630
No. No they can't. \nBird flu can only be passed from a chicken to a human (or mammal) by deeply inhaling some bird poo particles. Eating an egg is not going to give you flu. The same goes for eating the actual chicken - as it is you have to cook it above 100 degrees C to make sure it has no samonella, and H5N1 will not survive that sort of heat.\n\nCheck out www.bbc.co.uk then go to the news page and search for bird flu.