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of Bird Flu Date : May 15, 2006 Influenza Virus is responsible for different types of flu and the current outbreak of avian influenza or bird flu across Asia is caused by influenza A virus called H5N1. Various clinical studies have revealed that the outbreak took place in Asia because the poultry farms throughout Asia are so filthy and stench from these farms can be detected a mile away. Bird flu is very contagious among birds and can cause harm to the domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill them. But avian influenza occurs naturally among birds since influenza A virus normally present in the intestine of wild birds, but they do not get sick from them. Though it is contagious, there is less chance of transmission of this virus from birds to humans but the confirmed reports of bird to human transmission since 1979 have raised alarm throughout the world and the health experts are spending sleepless nights looking for the various possible measures to mitigate the outbreak of bird flu. Till date, there is no specific anti-avian influenza vaccine to humans has been made to treat the avian influenza to humans but Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate), an antiviral medicine has been approved by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for treating avian influenza. Tamiflu is an oral prescription medicine, and should be taken within the first two days of the onset of the flu symptoms. It blocks the action of the neuraminidase enzyme on the surface of the virus and when this enzyme is inhibited, the virus is not able to spread to and infect other cells in the body. Other effective antiviral medicines are amantadine, which is an oral prescription medicine and effectively blocks the spread of the virus inside the body. Rimantadine is another antiviral medicine use to treat influenza A infection. But you must take this medicine with prior consultation with a doctor if you are pregnant or have kidney of liver problem. Another frequently prescribed medicine is relenza, which is available in he form of powder and is inhaled twice a day for five days from a breath-activated plastic device called a Disk haler, but it is ineffective to the patients of asthma or a lung condition called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Apart from the above mentioned drugs, care should be taken buy the health experts who handles the patients. Patients should be isolated from other patients and they should attain them carefully keeping a suitable distance and should not touch their saliva or any excretory products, and hands should be washed properly. Workers involved in culling process should be given fine weapons and proper clothing, so that they can avoid direct contact with the blood and should be given course of antiviral medicine immediately. Influenza viruses have the tendency to change their form from one to other, so there is no guarantee that the available medicine will be able to restrict its influence in humans in future as well. High level of studies for the invention of an effective drug is a must but it is the poultry farmer who can prevent the outbreak by keeping their farm clean and hygienic to the birds. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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