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