For the Birds

The bird flu has technically been around for a very long time in aquatic bird species; however, the first H5N1 outbreak was first seen in geese in China in 1996. Avian influenza is an infectious disease of birds caused by a type A strain of the influenza virus.  Most species of wild birds that carry [...]

It is very important that healthcare workers, who are treating individuals that may potentially have the avian flu, follow certain guidelines and take proper safety precautions. All patients who come to a health-care setting and have a fever and or respiratory symptoms should be handled according to the CDC’ suggestions for respiratory hygiene and cough [...]

Avian influenza is a sickness of birds that is found mainly in wild waterfowl such as ducks and geese. At times, it is possible for this disease to migrate from these wild birds to domestic poultry. There are a large number of types of bird flu. At the moment, there is a type of bird [...]

With the threat of a potential pandemic from the bird flu, scientists are working feverishly towards finding a vaccine to protect the general public.  However, the challenges of creating such a vaccine are much more difficult than your everyday flu shot. First, it is important to understand how vaccines work.  Your body is under constant [...]

Naturally, people are curious about the avian flu and have a large number of questions regarding this disease. What is avian influenza or Bird Flu? Avian influenza, which is also known as bird flu, is an infectious viral disease. It originates from a virus that typically infects only birds (including chickens, ducks, geese, quails and [...]

Vaccines are produced each year to prevent seasonal influenza. These vaccines are one of the most effective ways to minimize suffering and death from influenza. However, these vaccines do not protect against the avian flu. Currently there is no vaccine available to protect against the bird flu. Avian influenza, or bird flu, is an infectious [...]

With the cold and flu season rapidly approaching, more and more people are keeping a close eye on their health.  Doing so is one issue when all it means is avoiding the office coworker with the sniffles.  But when the flu makes the national headlines, more people take notice.  Of the different health scares that [...]

The bird flu is becoming a greater concern with health professionals in the countries that it affects.  Currently there is no cure for the disease, though there are some treatments for it. Treatment for the bird flu is most effective when it begins within two days of the onset of symptoms.  There is a much [...]

According to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a human outbreak of bird flu in the United States could deal a $675 billion blow to the economy, quoting a new study by the Congressional Budget Office. This study assumed a 2.5 percent mortality rate and that 30 percent of the population would be infected and [...]

GlaxoSmithKline, a pharmaceutical giant, has developed a low-dose and inexpensive vaccine, which could protect humans from being infected by the H5N1 bird flu virus.  This virus is a severe type A influenza that has killed hundreds of people and millions of birds worldwide.  A global pandemic, scientist fear, could occur if the virus mutates to [...]