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