| Right now, the people must vulnerable to | | | | underdeveloped immune systems |
| bird flu are those who come into close | | | | Pregnant women |
| and frequent contact with infected | | | | Seniors, because they have lowered |
| chickens and other poultry. | | | | immunity |
| Therefore, the main danger is to rural | | | | People with AIDS, because their have low |
| farmers and chicken sellers in Asia and | | | | CDC4 counts |
| Africa. Anybody who slaughters chickens, | | | | People who're HIV+, though it's not yet |
| plucks their feathers, eviscerates and | | | | known just how much more at risk they |
| cooks chickens. Anybody who sells their | | | | are of catching bird flu, it's only |
| raw meat in a market. Anybody who | | | | logical that any stress on their immune |
| attends a cockfighting match, because | | | | systems will increase the risk that the |
| fighting cocks spray blood into the air. | | | | HIV in their bodies will replicate more |
| Their children seem to be most at risk. | | | | quickly |
| That's probably because they play and | | | | People undergoing radiation or chemo |
| pet the chickens that run wild in their | | | | therapy for cancer |
| villages, they play in the dirt that's | | | | People who're taking immune-suppressing |
| infected with chicken droppings and they | | | | drugs because of organ transplants |
| have undeveloped immune systems. | | | | People with chronic breathing or |
| Anybody who eats raw or undercooked | | | | respiratory problems such as asthma or |
| chicken or eggs from infected chickens | | | | chronic pulmonary disorder |
| is at risk. That is why Vietnam is | | | | People with heart disease, because |
| discouraging its people from preparing a | | | | they're more at risk from the stress of |
| traditional dish of raw duck blood soup. | | | | fighting a case of bird flu |
| Right now, this applies to people in | | | | If you fall into any of the above |
| rural Asia, Africa and Europe. When H5N1 | | | | groups, avoid all contact with anybody |
| spreads to North and South America, it | | | | who could be carrying the bird flu |
| could apply also to small farmers who | | | | virus. Wash your hands well and often. |
| raise chickens the traditional way. | | | | Consult with your doctor. |
| Modern chicken factory farming protects | | | | During 1918, the flu was particularly |
| chickens from contact with wild fowl and | | | | fatal to young adults who did not fall |
| other outside birds, so they're unlikely | | | | into any of the above groups. They had |
| to catch bird flu -- though it's not | | | | the problem that their immune systems |
| impossible. People who work in the U.S. | | | | were strong enough to overreact to the |
| poultry industry are also the most now | | | | infection and destroyed their lung |
| at risk, so they should follow all | | | | tissues in order to save them. |
| guidelines to limit contact with live | | | | This "cytokine storm" does seem to be a |
| and raw chicken and wash themselves | | | | danger with H5N1 also. |
| thoroughly after work. | | | | However, personally I'd rather have a |
| If bird flu mutates into a form that is | | | | healthy immune system to fight H5N1 |
| easily contagious from human to human, | | | | with, and then use Vitamin C, Omega 3, |
| we're all vulnerable to catching the | | | | over the counter NSAIDs and Cox-2 |
| virus. We should all avoid nonessential | | | | inhibitors (such as aspirin, Aleve, |
| contact with people. We should be | | | | Ibuprofin, Advil or Motrin) or even |
| careful who we physically touch, since | | | | hydrogen peroxide to reduce the |
| even shaking hands can spread the virus. | | | | inflammation. |
| We should be careful about touching | | | | Right now, people exposed to infected |
| objects that have been used by others. | | | | chickens are most at risk. If bird flu |
| We should wash our hands well and often. | | | | becomes highly contagious, we're all at |
| But some groups are particularly | | | | risk, but people with weak immune |
| vulnerable to bird flu: | | | | systems are most at risk. |
| Children, because they have | | | | |