Originally published October 13 2005
Reuters educates the public with bird flu fact sheet
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Reuters recently gathered research, history and statistics about H5N1 avian flu into an accessible, compressed format for its readers.
The H5N1 avian flu virus has killed 65 people in Asia since late 2003.
It is one of 15 known subtypes of bird disease caused by type-A strains of influenza.
Type-A avian influenzas were first identified in Italy more than a century ago.
H5N1 refers to an avian flu strain that emerged in Hong Kong in 1997, killing or forcing the destruction of 1.5 million chickens, ducks and geese, infecting 18 people and killing six.
The World Health Organization says the quick slaughter of all potentially infected birds may have averted a pandemic.
-- H5N1 avian influenza re-emerged in Korea in 2003.
-- H5N1 is considered the biggest direct disease threat to humanity because it mutates rapidly and can also acquire genes from other viruses, making it a potential human pathogen.
-- Experts estimate that if it acquires the ability to infect people easily and spread from person to person efficiently, it will make more than 25 million people seriously ill and will kill as many as 7 million.
-- Birds that survive infection with H5N1 excrete the virus for at least 10 days, orally and in faeces, making it highly likely to spread.
Migratory birds, usually wild ducks, are the natural "reservoir" of avian influenza viruses, and usually do not become sick when infected.
Domestic poultry, including chickens and turkeys, die quickly when infected.
-- Several companies are working on an H5N1 vaccine, and the furthest along in development is France's Sanofi-Aventis.
U.S.-based Chiron Corp. aims to test its H5N1 vaccine later this year and Britain's GlaxoSmithKline Plc plans large-scale clinical trials in 2006.
The ordinary flu vaccine does not protect against avian flu.
-- Two antiviral drugs can help against the infection and may even prevent it if taken at precisely the right time.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml