H5N1 - possible Human To Human Transmission

This isn't good news.

Two Indonesian women who died from avian influenza earlier this month had no known contact with flu-infected birds, said a doctor at a hospital that treated one of the patients.

Comments

[Gina]

This is so NOT good.

[Gina]

I had no idea about this though.

Bird flu could readily mutate into a pandemic form if it infects people with Aids, a flu expert has warned.

Dr Robert Webster said it was possible people with Aids, who have depressed immune systems, could harbour the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu.

This would potentially give it the opportunity to become better adapted - and more dangerous - to humans.

H5N1 has not reached East Africa yet, but it is the final destination for many birds currently migrating from infected areas.

Officials at the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation expect to arrive there soon.

"We're all very worried by the prospect,"

By Roland Pease
BBC science correspondent

[the questioner]

The problem is that so many are not informed enough about this to be concerned about this revelation. This is a virus, the morphing of this virus, if it is happening, is not good because something like this can travel around the world in two and a half weeks in our "global village".

[Gina]

Has the US developed a vaccine or are close to developing one?

[Gina]

Whoaa..apparently theyhave been working on this since 2003....
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-04/sjcr-sjd040203.php

[newswatcher]

Has the US developed a vaccine or are close to developing one?

Posted by: Gina | Nov 18, 2005 1:52:57 P

The problem with development of a vaccine now is that if the virus undergoes a mutation, which it would have to do in order to become highly infectious from human to human, the vaccine stock could be instantly obsolete.

Right now our best hope are the anti-virals, and that ain't good.

I wonder how many years before the 1918 influenza pandemic an avian virus simmered behind the scenes.

[!]

I have only taken a flu shot once in my life when I was just 20. If you missed work becuase of the flu and had not taken the flu shot you woek not be paid for days missed, so I took it. It was free. Genuine Auto Parts.
Never took one since and I have never come down with the flu. I prefer not to take any shots of any kind as we all know what is in these shots.
I only took things that are absolutely needed are required.
The most important thing to remeber and "do" is to Wash your hands, wash your hands often.
Like after you got to malls or grocery stores and touch things such as doors at those places and the handles of shopping carts and even remeber this at work when you are touching things in an office like copy machines, postage machines, and the like. Washing your hands often is a good defense.:O) I noticed last year in China people there were even wearing those white masks in public everywhere they went. Its up to you how you protect yourself. Just remember this.
God Bless. :O)

[_ o _ iwabwu _ O _]

Save the turkey. Eat a tofu bird this year : )