| It started out as a natural influenza virus being carried | | | | likelihood that a new 'super virus' could be formed.If this |
| naturally among wild birds which carry the viruses in | | | | occurs then the virus, like the common cold, could |
| their intestines, but usually do not get sick from them. | | | | spread very rapidly and inflict a high mortality rate - |
| However, bird flu is very contagious among birds and | | | | particularly on the young, the elderly and people |
| can make some domesticated birds, including chickens, | | | | already sick.What is the bird flu and is there a vaccine? |
| ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill them.Avian | | | | While the Tamiflu vaccine may be effective against |
| influenza does not normally infect species other than | | | | the bird flu virus, it is in short supply. The other MAJOR |
| birds and pigs. But humans came down with the bird flu | | | | factor is that there is no guarantee that this vaccine |
| in Hong Kong in 1997, when the H5N1 strain infected 18 | | | | will be effective against the mutated strain of the new |
| humans, 6 of whom died.What is the bird flu and why | | | | virus and health officials advise that this could be many |
| are we killing chickens? More recently a virulent form | | | | months away.What is the bird flu and what can I do to |
| of avian flu has swept through 10 countries in Asia, | | | | protect myself?Best advice is to avoid the possibility |
| killing thousands of chickens and ducks and possibly | | | | of exposure and to boost your immune system by |
| wild birds as well. In four countries, China, Thailand, | | | | eating a healthy diet (more omega 3 fatty acids, less |
| Indonesia and Vietnam, the flu has also infected people, | | | | sugar, fried foods and omega 6 to begin)and by |
| most of whom are believed to have had close contact | | | | supplementing with nutrients known to improve the |
| with infected chickens. The governments in those | | | | function of the immune system - such as Selenium |
| countries have culled millions of birds in an effort to | | | | and Vitamins A, C and E.Summary |
| stop the spread.Bird flu viruses do not usually infect | | | | |
| humans, but more than 100 confirmed cases of human | | | | The bird flu or H5N1 virus occurs naturally in wild birds |
| infection with bird flu viruses have occurred since 1997 | | | | and may be spread to domesticated fowls and pigs. |
| according to the World Health Organisation.The | | | | Recently there have human infections in several |
| difference in this virus, known as H5N1, compared to | | | | countries in Asia as a result of contact with infected |
| human flu and pneumonia is that the avian form | | | | birds and pigs. The virus reads through the human boy |
| spreads through the body at a very fast rate and | | | | very rapidly and affects the lungs, which fill with fluid. |
| affects the lungs which quickly fill with fluid. Symptoms | | | | Health officials are concerned about the possibility of |
| include: fever, sore throat, cough and, in several of the | | | | widespread human contamination resulting in a new |
| fatal cases, severe respiratory distress caused by viral | | | | and very deadly virus that would spread easily |
| pneumonia.What is the bird flu and why do people think | | | | between humans ands inflict a high mortality rate. |
| it will turn into a pandemic? What has got health | | | | While there is a vaccine for the H5N1 bird flu virus, it is |
| officials worried is that the H5N1 virus is able to mutate | | | | in short supply and ay not offer any resistance to a |
| rapidly and picks up genetic material from viruses | | | | new bird flu virus. Antioxidant supplements are very |
| affecting other animals. There is then the very real | | | | effective in boosting the immune system d provide |
| possibility of wide scale human infection caused by a | | | | some natural protection against the virus |
| mutation of a new virus from people who are infected | | | | Paul Newland is a health writer, sports training |
| with both the bird flu and human influenza virus at the | | | | consultant and martial arts instructor and runs the |
| same time. The more birds that get infected, the | | | | website. |
| greater the danger to people and the increased | | | | |