| Bird Flu or more correctly, avian flu, is much in the | | | | "These H5N1 viruses might be acquiring the ability |
| news and causing a lot of anxiety. Many people | | | | to adapt to humans, increasing their pandemic risk |
| are worried that they may get it, and the papers | | | | ... there is a suggestion there may be some |
| are full of horror scenarios. | | | | parallel evolution going on." |
| There are over 100 strains of avian flu, but most | | | | Scientists still do not understand completely how a |
| of them do not infect humans. The current strain | | | | bird virus becomes a human virus, but H5N1 is |
| H5N1 can infect humans, but not easily. The | | | | already showing some of the mutations |
| number of cases of avian flu in humans in the | | | | necessary for it to become a human flu, but at |
| current outbreak is very small, and almost all have | | | | the moment, in spite off all the panic, there is no |
| come about by direct contact with infected or | | | | pandemic flu strain. |
| dead birds something that most of us are unlikely | | | | Research in the Netherlands and the USA has |
| to experience. So far, the spread of H5N1 virus | | | | shown that while human influenza viruses are able |
| from person-to-person has been rare and has not | | | | to bind with receptors in the windpipe, H5N1 binds |
| continued beyond one person. In fact according to | | | | only much deeper inside the lungs. This makes it |
| The Times (London, 23rd March 2006) only 184 | | | | more difficult for the virus to infect humans, |
| confirmed cases have been reported worldwide | | | | because the virus is less likely to reach the inner |
| so far from this strain, with 103 deaths. These | | | | lungs than the windpipe. The H5N1 virus is also |
| have been in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Thailand, | | | | less likely to spread from human to human. |
| Vietnam, and most recently, several cases in | | | | Coughing and sneezing easily transmits viruses |
| Turkey. | | | | that have multiplied in the windpipe, but not those |
| What the authorities are much more concerned | | | | located deep in the lungs. If H5N1 manages to |
| about is the strain mutating into a variation that | | | | mutate so that it can replicate in the upper |
| can be transmitted between human beings, rather | | | | respiratory tract, a pandemic becomes more |
| than just from bird to human. This has been | | | | likely. Scientists are constantly monitoring the virus |
| designated as influenza A/H5N1. Humans do not | | | | for this mutation. |
| have any resistance to this strain, because these | | | | So should we be concerned? There have been |
| viruses do not commonly infect humans. If a | | | | many scares over the years that have not come |
| strain developed that could infect the human | | | | to anything, and this could turn out to be one of |
| population, a pandemic would be likely with many | | | | those too, but it is worth taking some sensible |
| people being infected and dying. The 1918 Spanish | | | | precautions rather than just relying on the |
| flu is estimated to have killed 50 million people | | | | scientists to find a powerful enough solution. |
| worldwide. At least four of the eight genes of | | | | Having a strong immune system has to be the |
| H5N1 avian flu now contain mutations seen in that | | | | first line of defence. Eating a good diet, taking |
| deadly strain. | | | | exercise, getting plenty of sleep, and reducing |
| Jeffery K. Taubenberger, a molecular pathologist | | | | stress can all lead to a stronger immune system |
| at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in | | | | that can fight more effectively against the bugs |
| Rockville, USA has said: | | | | of this world and any dangerous mutations. |