Since then many countries have eliminated the strain, and have become virus free. But its threat to the wellbeign of the human population is very real and potentially catastrophically deadly. The type with the greatest risk is highly pathogenic avian influenza hpai. Lessons from the 1918 flu free summary by laurie garrett. Influenza is a quick, interesting read on the history of the flu, where we are today in our fight against it, and how prepared we are should an epidemic strike in the future. How to take bht bht is available to purchase in capsules, as a powder, or in granular form. Bird flu, also called avian influenza, is a viral infection that can infect not only birds, but also humans and other animals. We felt we had dodged a bullet, keiji fukuda told me earlier this year, when i visited him in his office at the world health. However for a book about the 191819 influenza pandemic to spend about 80 pages in the 19th century to me seems an unnecessary distraction. I always enjoy a medical science book, and this ones no different. In recent times the world has faced several potential pandemics sars, avian bird flu, swine flu, and most recently ebola. Bird flu is a well informed discussion of the current status and preparations in regards to bird or avian flu in asia and the united states.
Based on the recent avian flu outbreaks that have emerged into human populations, the world health organization now warns us that bird fluif mutated into a super contagious pandemic formcould visit millions of homes within two years. H5n6 has also been found in some wild birds in the uk but is a different strain to that seen in china. In this timely book, a group of experts from across asia come together to answer these and other issues. Bird flu is similar to swine flu, dog flu, horse flu and human flu as an illness caused by strains of influenza viruses that have adapted to a specific host. Bird flu, a viral respiratory disease of poultry and other bird species, including migratory waterbirds, that can be transmitted to humans. Everything you need to know about the next pandemic. Secretary of the interior the book is timely, well written, and very comprehensive from any readers perspective.
Bird flu avian flu, avian influenza infection in humans may result from contact with infected poultry. Outbreaks of avian influenza viruses later increased in frequency. A study published in july 2006 attempted to determine whether a synthetic influenza virus made by combining an h5n1 avian flu virus and a human flu virus would be more contagious than the natural h5n1 virus. A virus of our own hatching opens not with h5n1, the modern day bird flu virus which has the potential to mutate into the deadliest pandemic that the world has ever seen, but with h1n1, the influenza virus responsible for the 1918 flu pandemic. Following is an excerpt from eleanor mcbeans eyewitness account as memorialized in chapter two of her book, vaccination condemned. Flu vaccination has been shown to prevent flu illnesses, doctors visits and hospitalizations and can. This includes antigenic characterization, antiviral resistance, genetic. A virus of our own hatching, explores h5n1 the current strain of the virus that has generated so much concernfrom its origins, to its transmission, to its potential lethality, to how we might work to minimize the death and destruction that a pandemic might cause. Bird flu also called avian influenza, avian flu, bird influenza, or grippe of the birds, is an illness caused by a virus. The story of the great influenza pandemic of 1918 and the search for the virus that caused it kolata, gina on. Bird flu strain hitting china may be getting more dangerous. It also can help people understand the urgency of a possible avian. Williams also offers a natural medicine cabinet of vitamins, herbs, and minerals that work best against any kind of flualong with the clinical evidence to back up the remedies. Find information on coronavirus disease 2019 covid19.
There is a vaccine to prevent human infection with the h5n1 strain of the avian flu virus. Marc siegel provides reassurance for travelers and for those staying at home. Nonpharmaceutical public health measures for mitigating the risk and impact of epidemic. Text features and organization in an informational text. Because of the possible threat bird flu viruses pose to human health, cdc conducts research to learn more about these viruses, for example, where they spread, how they spread, and what kinds of disease they cause. Two nurses observe a young child suspected to have bird flu at an observation room in the hasan.
The global spread of highly pathogenic h5n1 in birds is considered a significant pandemic threat while prior h5n1 strains have been known, they were significantly different from the 2006 strain of h5n1 on a genetic level, making the global spread of this new strain unprecedented. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The virus, called influenza a or type a, usually lives in birds, but sometimes infects mammals, including humans. Avian influenza, known informally as avian flu or bird flu, is a variety of influenza caused by viruses adapted to birds. A cull is being carried out at a duck farm in yorkshire after avian flu found there, but officials stress very low risk to public health. However, since the bird flu has again appeared throughout asia, the world health organization reports that the search for a vaccine has been set back because the virus has mutated. Thousands of birds to be culled in france to stop bird flu. Webmd went to public health experts to get answers to your questions about how it is spread, its symptoms, and how to. For example, h1n2 is endemic in birds, pigs, and humans. An expose on the role intensive poultry farming has played in incubating a. Shots health news the case of a chinese woman adds to a growing list of avian flu strains to keep an. H5n8 bird flu has been found in some wild birds and poultry in the uk.
A virus of our own hatching by michael greger goodreads. Bird flu is spread by close contact with an infected bird dead or alive. By 2007, h5n1 had spread to some 55 countries and had a foothold in practically every region other than the americas. The 2006 strain of h5n1 is a fastmutating, highly pathogenic avian influenza virus hpai found in multiple. Such mutation can start a deadly worldwide epidemic. H5n1 caused the bird flu outbreak in 2004, and h1n1 was responsible for the 1918 pandemic. H5n1 emerged from southern china in the mid1990s but was not identified until 1997. The risk of a disease pandemic presents an important challenge for social marketing to this point, healthrelated social marketing has focused on chronic diseases such as cancer, asthma, obesity and their risk factors such as tobacco use, physical. The book is timely, well written, and very comprehensive from any readers perspective. I come away from this having learned so much about this common disease that has killed countless throughout history and continues to do so today. Bird flu simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The virus can pass from birds to humans and, very rarely, from person to person. Playing chicken with our food supply full disclosure.
Flu vaccination has been shown to prevent flu illnesses, doctors visits and hospitalizations and can be lifesaving in children 20182019 u. In the late 1990s, a new strain of bird flu arose that was remarkable for its ability to cause severe disease and death, especially in domesticated birds such as ducks, chickens, or turkeys. As you will recall, the bird flu was big news when it peaked in 2006. Presumed to have begun when sick farm animals infected soldiers in kansas, spreading and mutating into a. The book, as the title suggests, is a nuts and bolts volume, giving readers a brief introduction to avian flu with a focus on h5n1 and how to deal with it if a pandemic breaks out. As the bird flu hype intensifies, suddenly people who had never heard of it before remember the spanish flu pandemic of 1918 as if it just happened. The second edition of this popular text features a team of international experts who discuss all aspects of travel medicinefrom immunizations and pretravel advice for adults and childrento the latest information on cruise travel, bird flu, and sarsto the essentials of posttravel screening. View the avian flu fast facts on cnn and learn about bird flu symptoms and how bird flu spreads to humans. However, the h5n1 virus used was a strain collected in. Everything you need to know about the next pandemic marc siegel.
The symptoms of the bird flu h5n1 resemble those of the 1918 spanish flu pandemic, which killed up to 100 million people. When writing a book about an event you of course want back story and a summary of events leading up to the main topic. Bird flu avian influenza is a disease caused by strains of influenza virus that primarily affects birds. The virus that causes this infection in birds can mutate change to easily infect humans. Grattan woodson wrote the brief book, the bird flu preparedness planner. Should you be concerned about a particularly bad strain of bird flu h5n1. However, there is now a mutant strain, h5n1 that is not covered by existing vaccines. There is a natural tendency for us not only to hope, but to believe, that this threat will pass. History, and the ecology of influenza, suggests that bird flu originating pandemics will be with us always. Findings showed that it was not more easily spread in a ferret model maines 2006.
It also can help people understand the urgency of a possible avian flu. At this critical time in the development of pandemic influenza preparedness, michael gregers book bird flu. Viral immunity is the most comprehensive book on viral illness, treatment, and prevention that i have seen, and an essential resource for both practitioners and patients. Everything you need to know about the next pandemic, contends that the worlds response to sars was inappropriate panic fueled by selfserving bureaucrats, and that we should all cool our jets over bird flu until its really and truly here. A bird flu pandemic looms but the us is holding back the fight.
The story of the great influenza pandemic of 1918 and. Bird flu will be a fine addition to the office library as we continue to plan a national response to a possible avian influenza pandemic. The viral strain detected in hong kong in 1997 no longer can be used as the key to producing a vaccine. In 2002, my book viral immunity, a highly acclaimed text on whats gone wrong with our immune systems and why viral diseases are on the rise, was published. The disease is of concern to humans, who have no immunity against it. Everyone 6 months and older needs a flu vaccine each year. The most comprehensive homeopathic book available dealing. This book advises a sensible and comprehensive approach to treating ordinary flu and surviving pandemic. The real strength of bird flu lies in its comprehensive summary of the h5n1 outbreak. Chickens are put into plastic bags ready to be gassed, disinfected and placed in a. Scientists have found the first flu virus to infect bats, among little yellowshouldered bats in guatemala. In 2004, long before the bird flu scare, i started working on a book to prevent and treat influenza. But ha and na come in a number of variants, and a specific strain of influenza may contain one from column h and one from column n, creating a large number of possibilities. No disease the world has ever known even remotely resembles the great influenza epidemic of 1918.
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