Avian Influenza Research Paper

1/19/14
Learning Unit One - Who - Avian Influenza
The Avian Influenza is a viral disease of birds which is where it got the nickname the “Bird Flu”. Most Avian Influenza viruses do not have an effect on people, however some do. H5N1 is a subgroup of Influenza that will cause serious illness and in some case death. Like most new diseases there is not a lot known about the bird flu and there is still a lot of research being done with this disease. Most cases of the bird flu in humans have come from direct or indirect contact with poultry. Examples of birds who normally carry this disease are wild water fowl, ducks and geese. Out-breaks in this disease are of major concern because of its serious effect on people, as well as the affect
The mortality rate with the Bird Flu is about 60 percent and usually happens within forty-eight hours once the patient is infected. Symptoms associated with this disease include a high fever, diarrhea, vomiting, bleeding from the nose and chest pain. In some cases patients have a lower respiratory tract infection. Although this disease can be spread from birds to humans it is difficult to transmit from person to person. Researchers have recently made genetic changes to the H5N1 disease. The reason researchers have been try to change the genetics of this disease is to try and improve the health surveillance for early detection. What the scientist are doing is making the virus easily transmittable from person to person. In the lab room this seems like a good idea, but in the wrong hands this could turn a small out-break into a pandemic. This could be the first step in making this disease an ideal weapon for bioterrorism. There are some antiviral drugs that can reduce the duration and chance of getting the flu again. The main antiviral drug is Oseltamivir and should be prescribed as soon as possible. Because of the seriousness of the disease sometimes the