Autumn of all media publications in Europe were noisy on the new facts of avian influenza in Asia, were afraid of migratory birds and looking for signs of a pandemic in its place. And no one could hear individual voices, which, in principle, the fall of our birds fly south, not vice versa. Spring is coming and once again became hysterical ...
In fact, bird flu was discovered over 100 years ago, but in humans the virus was first registered in Hong Kong in 1997 during the poultry deaths. About 20 people fell ill, six fatal - then and was found the same H5N1 strain and found that the virus passed from birds to man.
Epidemics of diseases caused by mutations in viruses, there are approximately 2 - 3 times in a century. According to statistics, the pandemic of "Spanish flu" (1918-1919 years) took into oblivion about 20-30 million people. And there are versions of the virus, "Spanish flu" is the result of recombination of genes of the virus the birds and humans. But progress is not in place - already in 1957 breaks the pandemic of Asian flu. " In 1968, the pandemic "the Hong Kong flu".
If you reject the other fears of the World Health Organization, such as SARS or AIDS, there remains much debate about: whether this will go a strain of H5N1 to humans or not? Wait a worldwide plague or the time to develop a vaccine?
In fact, there are 15 types of bird flu, but especially contagious and deadly virus that causes the greatest concern is the strain H5N1. However, even within this strain, there are variations. In different countries affected by avian flu have been recorded its various options. In this case, wild birds, especially ducks, are natural carriers of the virus and contribute to the spread of the disease. And the main victims of flu are poultry with low resistance to viruses.
As a result, since the basic carriers of the disease are poultry, prevent the spread of the virus is almost impossible. However, regular monitoring of wild bird migration allows to observe the appearance of infected flocks in different locations. In addition, WHO maintains that H5N1 avian influenza will grow into a worldwide pandemic if the virus is only subjected to the recombination of genes from human influenza virus, ie, acquire new properties.
A person infected with a virus or through direct contact with live infected birds or through airborne droplets on the infected area. The virus found in bird feces, which dries the particles into the air and then inhaled by man. Symptoms of the disease are identical to regular flu - fever, malaise, sore throat and cough.
However, scientists are concerned the results of recent investigations of fatal cases in Vietnam: it turned out, the bird flu virus can affect all organs, not just the lungs. This may mean that some diseases and even death, not previously associated with avian influenza, were in fact caused by exactly the virus.
However, despite all this, avian flu - is first and foremost, newsworthy, and not a real problem. At least for man, and the virus - a threat, rather, to agriculture. While not happen mutation of the strain, the epidemic will not occur. And of proactive measures practiced until the destruction of infected birds. The authorities of several countries destroyed millions of birds - it is considered that these measures to contain the spread of the disease among humans.
But there are pluses. The global rush on this issue led to the fact that more and more scientific and research centers are developing a vaccine in the event of an epidemic. But effective developments in this direction, despite the progress in technology, biology and genetics, can not begin before a pandemic begins - as yet unknown with nothing to fight! At the moment, is just waiting for developments. A development by scientists predict could become a very rapidly at any time.
But on the other hand, because of the constant hype every case of disease diagnose and treat almost all the forces of international medicine. In addition, the authorities recalled the veterinary surveillance, which also allows you to track changes in the situation. The main thing is that not a single case that human infection occurred in compliance with all safety standards for raising and breeding poultry.
Thus, the avian flu carries two main risks for human health. First, the risk of serious illness and, secondly, the risk that the virus - the presence of an enabling environment - is transformed into a form that for people and spreads easily from person to person.
As is the case with ordinary influenza viruses, the best defense - prevention. Human vaccine currently exists, doctors recommend the use of antiviral drugs that enhance immunity and reduce the likelihood of infection. And as personal protective equipment is better to restrict travel to the country in which the reported cases of avian influenza, to refrain from visiting public events. And, of course, to observe good personal hygiene: wash hands frequently with soap and water, do not use things ill with avian influenza, wipe your hands with alcoholic solution after contact with the patient and take a multivitamin, which increase resistance to acute respiratory disease and avian influenza.
Although the avian influenza virus is well tolerated deep freeze, it dies within seconds at high temperatures: in boiling water or hot skillet. Therefore, there may be even an infected bird, of course, provided that it is properly cooked. Some experts do not recommend drinking raw eggs and cook them offer a hard-boiled.
Health to you, and do not be ill!
In fact, bird flu was discovered over 100 years ago, but in humans the virus was first registered in Hong Kong in 1997 during the poultry deaths. About 20 people fell ill, six fatal - then and was found the same H5N1 strain and found that the virus passed from birds to man.
Epidemics of diseases caused by mutations in viruses, there are approximately 2 - 3 times in a century. According to statistics, the pandemic of "Spanish flu" (1918-1919 years) took into oblivion about 20-30 million people. And there are versions of the virus, "Spanish flu" is the result of recombination of genes of the virus the birds and humans. But progress is not in place - already in 1957 breaks the pandemic of Asian flu. " In 1968, the pandemic "the Hong Kong flu".
If you reject the other fears of the World Health Organization, such as SARS or AIDS, there remains much debate about: whether this will go a strain of H5N1 to humans or not? Wait a worldwide plague or the time to develop a vaccine?
In fact, there are 15 types of bird flu, but especially contagious and deadly virus that causes the greatest concern is the strain H5N1. However, even within this strain, there are variations. In different countries affected by avian flu have been recorded its various options. In this case, wild birds, especially ducks, are natural carriers of the virus and contribute to the spread of the disease. And the main victims of flu are poultry with low resistance to viruses.
As a result, since the basic carriers of the disease are poultry, prevent the spread of the virus is almost impossible. However, regular monitoring of wild bird migration allows to observe the appearance of infected flocks in different locations. In addition, WHO maintains that H5N1 avian influenza will grow into a worldwide pandemic if the virus is only subjected to the recombination of genes from human influenza virus, ie, acquire new properties.
A person infected with a virus or through direct contact with live infected birds or through airborne droplets on the infected area. The virus found in bird feces, which dries the particles into the air and then inhaled by man. Symptoms of the disease are identical to regular flu - fever, malaise, sore throat and cough.
However, scientists are concerned the results of recent investigations of fatal cases in Vietnam: it turned out, the bird flu virus can affect all organs, not just the lungs. This may mean that some diseases and even death, not previously associated with avian influenza, were in fact caused by exactly the virus.
However, despite all this, avian flu - is first and foremost, newsworthy, and not a real problem. At least for man, and the virus - a threat, rather, to agriculture. While not happen mutation of the strain, the epidemic will not occur. And of proactive measures practiced until the destruction of infected birds. The authorities of several countries destroyed millions of birds - it is considered that these measures to contain the spread of the disease among humans.
But there are pluses. The global rush on this issue led to the fact that more and more scientific and research centers are developing a vaccine in the event of an epidemic. But effective developments in this direction, despite the progress in technology, biology and genetics, can not begin before a pandemic begins - as yet unknown with nothing to fight! At the moment, is just waiting for developments. A development by scientists predict could become a very rapidly at any time.
But on the other hand, because of the constant hype every case of disease diagnose and treat almost all the forces of international medicine. In addition, the authorities recalled the veterinary surveillance, which also allows you to track changes in the situation. The main thing is that not a single case that human infection occurred in compliance with all safety standards for raising and breeding poultry.
Thus, the avian flu carries two main risks for human health. First, the risk of serious illness and, secondly, the risk that the virus - the presence of an enabling environment - is transformed into a form that for people and spreads easily from person to person.
As is the case with ordinary influenza viruses, the best defense - prevention. Human vaccine currently exists, doctors recommend the use of antiviral drugs that enhance immunity and reduce the likelihood of infection. And as personal protective equipment is better to restrict travel to the country in which the reported cases of avian influenza, to refrain from visiting public events. And, of course, to observe good personal hygiene: wash hands frequently with soap and water, do not use things ill with avian influenza, wipe your hands with alcoholic solution after contact with the patient and take a multivitamin, which increase resistance to acute respiratory disease and avian influenza.
Although the avian influenza virus is well tolerated deep freeze, it dies within seconds at high temperatures: in boiling water or hot skillet. Therefore, there may be even an infected bird, of course, provided that it is properly cooked. Some experts do not recommend drinking raw eggs and cook them offer a hard-boiled.
Health to you, and do not be ill!
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