The Sky Is Falling.

Hi. I had a real bad nightmare yesterday. It was pretty close to Armagaddon that I was a bit upset the whole morning. Well, why the hell should Ii suffer alone. So, I’m just giving out a few facts culled from sources like CDC and WHO websites on the Avian flu. Enjoy.

“The Sky is Falling”

As experts keep a close watch on the H5N1 flu virus, let’s ascertain a few facts to check-out whether the hype is really worth it.

It can kill almost every infected bird and killed up to 4 men out of 10 infected. In 1918-19, a similar virus killed over 400000 people during the “Spanish Flu”. It returned, albeit with a few mutations in 1958-59, to kill more than 100000 people and another 50000 in 1968-69.

Analysts say that in a century, there could be as many as 4 pandemics of influenza, and the next one is long overdue.

What makes H7N7 so feared is its ability to mutate rapidly and acquire newer ’skills’. As of now, it can only infect birds and pigs (but with alarming mortality rates). Human infections are infrequent and self-limiting. But experts feel that, at some stage, like common cold, H2N7 can also transmit itself from human to human via air, clothes and other inanimate objects, there by causing a deadly pandemic.

Visualize this. The virus will be as prevalent as the common cold virus; nobody is immune against it; it kills; there’s no real cure; no vaccine; only grandma remedies like washing ur hands and drinking chicken soup – oops chicken is prohibited too.

What are the governments doing?

• Vaccine development is in full-swing and we can expect a successful one shortly.
• Anti-viral drugs are being tested to ascertain the best line of treatment.
• Agencies are closely monitoring the situation for any signs of possible human infection and taking steps to quarantine infected fowls and men.

What can u do?

• Pray.
• Try and get a Flu shot. It might work.
• Practice hygiene.

Tips to contain Common Cold (Works for most Influenza strains):

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water or use a liquid hand sanitizer.
• Try to stay away from people who are sneezing and coughing (at least three feet).
• Get plenty of rest.
• Exercise as often as possible.
• Eat healthy foods.
• Don’t smoke/booze.
• Don’t share drinking glasses.
• Check with your doctor about a flu shot and taking vitamins.
• Moisten the room-air
• Make plenty of liquids
• Use an otc nasal decongestant (pseudoephedrine, phenylpropanolamine, phenylephrine).
• Gargle with warm salt water a few times a day to relieve a sore throat. Throat sprays or lozenges may also help relieve the pain.
• These flu drugs include amantadine (Symmetrel), rimantadine (Flumadine), and oseltamivir (Tamiflu).

Notes:

• avian flu-type a inf. virus
• mortality in birds – upto 100%
• subtypes h5,h7 most virulent
• migratory water birds to domestic birds transmission
• constantly mutate, acquire new genes
• bird-pig-human
• flu pandemic 3-4 times in a century
• long-overdue
• to reduce incidence avoid contact with reservoir-vaccinate-antiretroviral drugs – costly and supply demand resistance
• h9n2
• lab test confirmation
• spanish flu 40k deaths 1918-1919 h1n1
• asian flu 1958-59 h2n2 approx 100k deaths
• hongkong flu 1968-69 h3n2 50k deaths
• pandemic waves
• can infect up to 35% population