Information On Bird Flu

Avian influenza, or bird flu as it is more commonly known

, was discovered over a century ago in Italy and to date, there are several strains of the bird flu virus. Many of these strains have become deadly, particularly the H5 and H7 strains. The primary contributors to the cytokine storm are TNF-a (Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha) and IL-6 (Interleukin-6). The cytokine storm is an inappropriate (greatly exaggerated) immune response that is caused by rapidly proliferating and highly activated T-cells or natural killer (NK) cells. If flu viruses seem simple, it is because they are. All viruses are simple. They have just enough genetic and structural machinery to do the only thing that they do: infect and reproduce. Technically, they don't really reproduce themselves. What they really do is take over the host cell and command it to make more viruses.

In the affected areas, chickens are being culled at a rapid pace, but still the disease is spreading its wings from one district to the other, from one state to another. One primary reason for the rapid spread of Bird Flu is the lack of awareness about the virus which causes the disease. This particular flu virus became a pandemic flu in early 2009 and (as of the time that this article was being written) this flu virus is still spreading throughout the world, infecting people. Avian bird flu does not usually occur in humans, however over 100 confirmed cases of avian bird flu in humans have been reported since 1997. Most cases of avian bird flu in humans resulted from contact with infected domesticated birds or surfaces contaminated by the infected birds. The main cases of those who have gotten this terrible bird flu are cases in which the people themselves were in contact with birds. Bird flu doe snot seem to be spreading from person to person at all so far so there is not as yet a huge demand for the bird flu vaccine.

Usually Avian Influenza viruses do not infect humans. Migratory birds act as carriers of these viruses and do not get affected by them. These birds then come in contact with domesticated birds such as chickens and turkeys and spread the infection to them. No vaccine has been fully developed and tested to fight bird flu virus. Using amantadine and rimantadine, two drugs that are used to treat influenza, on those infected with the virus has not been successful. Symptoms of bird flu in humans have ranged from typical flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches) to eye infections, pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases (such as acute respiratory distress), and other severe and life-threatening complications.

Each flu will have symptoms and a bird flu symptom is not really any different, they can just get worse. If you have the bird flu you will be looking at the same types of symptoms, there will be the sore throat, a cough, perhaps some sneezing, a fever but you may also suffer from a more serious bird flu symptom like respiratory distress or even failure.

Information On Bird Flu

By: nicole wilsone

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