Bird Flu- Some scentific and medical help please.?
369646
The flu virus family is a big one. Some are characteristically bird flus, others are swine flus, others are human flus, ...\n\nThere's a considerable similarity amongst them (a family, right!)  and under some circumstances, a bird flu can swap bits with a pig flu or a human flu, producing a new variant. It's likely that this happens most often in SE Asia where duck ponds, people (including children) and pigs all live in very close quarters. This is probably the way the major flu pandemics (remember the Hong Kong flu?) in humans get started. \n\nUsually, bird flus don't bother people or pigs, and vice versa. But sometimes, there's enough of a crossover that a bird flu acquires the ability to infect people and spread easily. It happened in 1918, and that flu epidemic spread rapidly and killed something on the order of 40 or 50 million around the world in about 18 months. We know it was a bird type flu because the virus has been reconstructed in a research lab. These guys went looking for folks who'd died from that flu in the Arctic North and been buried in the permafrost. It took more than a decade, but it's recently become clear this flu, the 'Spanish flu', was a bird type flu. \n\nin the case of the current avian flu, it's not yet (if it ever will) acquired the ability to spread easily from human to human. It seems that you must be in close contact with infected birds to have much of a chance of catching it. But if you do, it's very dangerous. The mortality reat in the first few hundred reported cases was something like 50% and that's very very high. More recent cases in Europe seem to have a lower mortality rate, but that may primarily be an artifact of better care (eg, learning from prior cases). \n\nThere is little understanding of what changes would be required for this bird flu variant to become human infectious. There has been some speculation that it may be a few as two different gene changes. And perhaps the change(s) will never happen; no one has much of a real idea about the chances. And it's possible that, if it becomes infectious in humans, it will lose the lethality it currently has in humans. Or not, which is the scary case. \n\nTreatment for flu viruses is traditionally best via vaccine. However, since flu viruses change regularly and the vaccines are typically variant specific, it hasn't been possible to get it precisely right. Which variant will be the major issue in the coming flu season is hard to predict, but having guessed, it takes quite a while to produce the vaccine. It's a bit of a guess and isn't always gotten right. The avian flu is no different. \n\nA vaccine against the current variant would be pointless for humans, as it doesn't infect us very well. And if the virus changes to become infectious in humans, we don't really know how to develop a vaccine against a virus variant we haven't yet seen. And after we see it, it will take some months to produce the vaccine for it. \n\nWhat are the chances of drug treatment against a human infective variant of this avian flu? Not good, just as there aren't very good drugs against any virus infection. We have one or two drugs, of which Tamiflu is thought to be the best of a not very good lot. Governments have begun stockpiling it, against possible need. \n\n======\n\npossibilities\n\n1) The virus never acquires the ability to infect humans easily and to be highly contagious. If so, the current plague among birds will eventually burn itself out and there won't be much further issue. \n\n2) The virus will never acquire the ability to be highly contagious, but will learn to infect people much better than it can manage now and will retain its lethality. More people will die before the pandemic among birds finally burns out. Death toll might be in the thousands or hundreds of thousands, as compared with hundreds to date. it think this unlikely as the flu viruses have all had excellent c
645934
Stress makes you more susceptible to disease as it negatively impacts your immune system\n\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
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.
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When anyone gets a really serious flu (in my life),.. there is one thing that seems to help pull you out of it.\n\nChicken + Bayleaf(ves) + White Rice\n\nI think that's it.\n\nI think the boneless Chicken is boiled and then added to the White and Bayleaf,.. sorry for being vauge.\n\nIt gets better the older it gets.  So when you start off you eat the rice, then try a little meat the next day then your hogging down Rice and Meat like a Maniac the next.
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Rylog,\n Birdflu infected upto 133 members as per some records. This is only infected when they got in touch with those birds or their excreta.  But the whole world is getting worried if it across from human to human. Upto now all infections are from bird to human, not human to human. Example for human to human infections are winter flu, but we got vaccine for that. Where as for birdflue, there is no vaccine as such. Roche, a company  which manufactures TamiFle might help for this. Scientists are still working on the vaccine. \n\nHope this helps..
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Dear Greensomega,\nYou've certainly brought your medical concerns to the right place! The Y!A community members are fully aware of and do appreciate the intimate conditions involving your prognosis.\nMost recognized doctors in the field of medicine would employ a holistic approach to your ailment. Greensomega, please begin your day with a well balanced breakfast to include an ample portion of fruits and grains. After your morning routines are finished, enjoy a brisk walk around the block. If you happen to meet any stray dogs along the way, it would be a good idea to antagonize the creatures in order to add some vigor to your workout.\nNow Greensomega, the remaining portions of your day should be filled with interesting activities and new studies to keep your mind active and in balance, complimentary to what you have done with the physical side of yourself.\nAfter loitering around at the public library all afternoon with a bunch of smelly hobos, you can appreciate a warm bath and time to be good to yourself. Begin to collect an archive of various music genres that you can resolve one day to enjoy after you get the rest of your chores done.\nGreensomega, if after following my advice, simply take two aspirin and forget we ever had this little discussion.\nThank you, Greensomega. Have a great day!\nDr. Zealnik
688311
i think we should take this bird flu stuff very seriously... that's my answer!! :)
65866
There aren't any medicines that can prevent it - that's why it's such a potential problem. Here is what has been recommended in Asia:\n\n1. Exercise regularly\n2. Eat nutritiously\n3. Don't touch birds (a lot of people in Asia buy live poultry in the street markets and take them home to kill them, etc.)\n4. Wash your hands often\n\nSome people here were getting Tamiflu shots, but I don't know if that even prevents it. And a lot of people aren't eating chicken at all anymore.\n\nHope you stay well and safe.
156338
Sounds like pregnancy. I've heard some folk who got the flu saying they had some of these symptoms, but they last all day. Try soaking in a nice warm bath with some epson salt. Afterwards rub down with some rubbing alcohol (Green Alcohol). That might help out a little bit.
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Maybe the vending machine was concerned about the bird flu.\n\nSeriously, though: There should be an 800 number on it that you can call.
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Dear sam5935,\nYou've certainly brought your medical concerns to the right place! The Y!A community members are fully aware of and do appreciate the intimate conditions involving your prognosis.\nMost recognized doctors in the field of medicine would employ a holistic approach to your contagion. sam5935, please begin your day with a well balanced breakfast to include an ample portion of fruits and grains. After your morning routines are finished, enjoy a brisk walk around the block. If you happen to meet any stray dogs along the way, it would be a good idea to antagonize the creatures in order to add some vigor to your workout.\nNow sam5935, the remaining portions of your day should be filled with interesting activities and new studies to keep your mind active and in balance, complimentary to what you have done with the physical side of yourself.\nAfter loitering around at the public library all afternoon with a bunch of smelly hobos, you can appreciate a warm bath and time to be good to yourself. Begin to collect an archive of various music genres that you can resolve one day to enjoy after you get the rest of your chores done.\nsam5935, if after following my advice, simply take two aspirin and forget we ever had this little discussion.\nThank you, sam5935. Have a great day!\n-viqueur
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As of now, several answers to your questions are unknown. While this disease has been in the news for quite a while, it is still a new disease, and we don't know much about it yet. Only time will tell what is going to happen, and what the effects of this disease are.\n\nHere is what is known about it:\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_flu
106602
I am afraid that the virus that causes bird flu will mutate and become airborne. That would be like the black plague. However, as of now, there is no need to panic. Even when the disease enters the US, for as long as there is no human to human transfer, just fowl to human, there is no need to panic. Just like any virus, the disease is self-limiting. What we have to do to prevent it is to boost our immune system and keep our bodies healthy
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IF you have had this set of symptoms for more than a few days, I think you should consider going to the doctor b/c these symptoms can be coming from something other than the normal flu, comething completely unrelated to the nature of what we all call the flu(which has no real cure anyway).  The traditional things we take for flu are really treating the symptoms, easing them.  I certainly don't take chances these days with pandemics running all over the place.  Hope ya feel better.\n\nutopianwizard\nyahoo answers brainiac panel
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Thats quite a platefull there...\n\nI'll help out with a few, afterall... it is your research project.\n\nThink of your common respiratory illnesses... bronchitis, flu, cold... etc.  Then I'd run a search of other respiratory illnesses, pneumonia for example (bacterial AND viral).\n\nHandling of specimens... you should know the aseptic technique.  And your major rule in the micro lab... Treat every microbe as if it were a pathogen.\n\nTypically... you bacterial diseases are cause by Gram Negative bacteria, to isolate those guy you'd grow them up on Mackonkey's Agar.  You can use a number of selective/differential mediums to help isolate your pathogens.\n\nVirus needs to be cultured up similar to parasites... cell culture.\n\nTreatments vary... though most commonly you'll see antibiotics (even when the cause is not a bacteria... thank you very much Doctors...grr)
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I have heard stories of killer bees being a huge threat, a huge flu season for the last three years, so I'm a little skeptical about this bird flu.\n\nThat being said having an emergency plan for any contingency is ALWAYS a good thing.  The old Boy Scout motto of being alway prepared comes to mind
838040
She's right about the milk. It does thicken secretions and make it harder to get rid of them and the cold virus that's causing the problem.  Chocolate, unless it's in combination with milk, has no effect one way or another.  (Chicken soup with plenty of onion and pepper will actively help. That's one of those old wives' tales that's been medically substantiated.)  Hope you feel better soon.