Avian Flu?are We Ready For It?
(Amitesh)
Write your abstract here.Avian Flu?Are we ready for it? Avian flu is particularly used to describe the influenza viruses that infect bird species like domestic birds such as chickens & hens. Some of these viruses do not effect or have very mild symptoms but some are very fatal and lead to severe epidemics. These viruses are highly pathogenic avian influenza and it is these viruses that are a major concern for the medical fraternity around the world, particularly in the Asian subcontinent as it is the worst hit region by the deadly avian flu. The cause of worry is that this avian flu virus has enough compatibility to merge with the human virus and enter the human body leading to fatal disease and death. People who are in close contact with birds like those at farms or markets are the easiest targets leading to wide spread loss of life as this virus is infectious in nature! The Spanish flu epidemic which occurred in 1918-1919 was of a similar type leading to the death of estimated 50 million people worldwide. How is Avian Flu transmitted? A bird infected with this flu sheds this virus in its feaces, saliva and mucus. Other birds become infected by eating or inhaling the virus. The virus can infect people who are in close contact with infected birds like that in bird markets, farm or contact with live poultry. People cannot catch avian flu from eating cooked chickens. Symptoms of Avian flu Avian Flu causes similar symptoms like that of normal flu in humans like fever, cough, sore throat, conjunctivitis. In more severe cases, breathing problems and pneumonia may cause death. Are there any treatments available for avian flu? There are enough of antiviral medications used to treat human flu virus that are well versed in combating the bird flu virus as well. One of the leading drugs for bird flu is Tamiflu. This potent antiviral drug contains minerals and supplements as a protection against the bird flu virus. Other effective drugs are amantadine, rimantadine, relenza. There might be a possibility that the bird flu virus may never become so lethal that it spreads as a epidemic. But it is wiser to follow history which has taught us to learn a lesson and implement all possible efforts to combat such difficult situations which nature poses in front of us.
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