Avian Flu
What I don't get about the bird flu pandemic, is how is it being tranferred to humans so easily, or so they say. Who are these people that are coming in contact with bird saliva/feces/nasal secretions?
I can see farmers and Third World types who live in close proximity to animals. But here in the states, people have pretty limited access to animals.
Now I can see an infected human passing it on to another IF it mutates. They haven't found any cases of human to human transfer yet.
So besides farmers, people who own cats that are infected [see below], and those who travel to Third World countries, I don't see what all the hubub is about. If people were more conscious of germs, and how gross people are that don't wash their hands regularly, it would be easy to prevent a pandemic.
Granted, if there is an outbreak I will be the first to wear a surgical mask and sanitary gloves.
I can see farmers and Third World types who live in close proximity to animals. But here in the states, people have pretty limited access to animals.
Now I can see an infected human passing it on to another IF it mutates. They haven't found any cases of human to human transfer yet.
So besides farmers, people who own cats that are infected [see below], and those who travel to Third World countries, I don't see what all the hubub is about. If people were more conscious of germs, and how gross people are that don't wash their hands regularly, it would be easy to prevent a pandemic.
Granted, if there is an outbreak I will be the first to wear a surgical mask and sanitary gloves.
'Infected birds pass on H5N1 through their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces.
Other birds may pick up the virus through direct contact with these excretions or when they have contact with surfaces contaminated with this material.
Because migratory birds are among the carriers of the H5N1 virus it may spread to all parts of the world.
Past outbreaks of avian flu have often originated in crowded conditions in southeast and east Asia, where humans, pigs, and poultry live in close quarters.
In these conditions a virus is more likely to mutate into a form that more easily infects humans.
H5N1 infections in humans are generally caused by bird to human transmission of the virus.
A few isolated cases of suspected human to human transmission exist, but there is no proof either way in those cases.
There is also concern, although no definitive proof, that other animals particularly cats may be able to act as a bridge between birds and humans.
So far several cats have been confirmed to have died from H5N1 and the fact that cats have regular close contact with both birds and humans means monitoring of H5N1 in cats will need to continue.'
Other birds may pick up the virus through direct contact with these excretions or when they have contact with surfaces contaminated with this material.
Because migratory birds are among the carriers of the H5N1 virus it may spread to all parts of the world.
Past outbreaks of avian flu have often originated in crowded conditions in southeast and east Asia, where humans, pigs, and poultry live in close quarters.
In these conditions a virus is more likely to mutate into a form that more easily infects humans.
H5N1 infections in humans are generally caused by bird to human transmission of the virus.
A few isolated cases of suspected human to human transmission exist, but there is no proof either way in those cases.
There is also concern, although no definitive proof, that other animals particularly cats may be able to act as a bridge between birds and humans.
So far several cats have been confirmed to have died from H5N1 and the fact that cats have regular close contact with both birds and humans means monitoring of H5N1 in cats will need to continue.'
posted by Big Daddy at
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Denver
1 Comments:
Awesome! Great to see I am not the only wondering about all the hoopla.
Thanks!
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