On this page the following entries were made in the “Bird Flu” category.
Archive for “Bird Flu”
Avian Influenza, Preventive Measures
There are many measures one can take to prevent developing the H5N1 avian influenza or any infection for that matter. The best way to protect yourself from developing an infection from the bird flu virus is an annual vaccination. Individuals at an increased risk of developing the flu or serious complications from the […]
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Am I At Risk For Avian Influenza?
A virus, such as the bird flu, usually infects a specific species which in this case is birds. However, the H5N1 bird flu virus has been confirmed to have caused over 200 cases of human infection. Currently the avian influenza virus is almost exclusively a bird infecting disease, not yet capable of infecting […]
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Tamiflu
Two antiviral medications, Tamiflu and Relenza, have been chosen as the drugs of choice to treat the H5N1 avian influenza virus in humans. Many governments including the U.S. government are currently stockpiling the drug Tamiflu in case of a bird flu pandemic.
In 1999, the FDA approved Tamiflu for the treatment of influenza A and […]
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The Spanish Flu of 1918
No avian influenza virus has caused a similar pandemic when compared to the catastrophic events of the 1918 Spanish Flu. Many experts compare any possible influenza pandemic against the historical severity of the Spanish Flu.
The Spanish Flu was an avian influenza virus that mutated into a highly infectious form causing a pandemic that occurred […]
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What Is Influenza A
There are three Influenza viruses that infect humans which include influenza A, influenza B, and influenza C. However, the influenza A virus is more commonly seen. The influenza A virus has been attributed to cause serious epidemics and pandemics.
The influenza A virus infects a wide array of species including pigs, horses, birds, humans, and other […]
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What is the Bird Flu
The bird flu or avian influenza is a virus that infects birds. This infectious disease is caused by various strains of the type A influenza virus. Contrary to belief, many wild birds carry the avian influenza viruses without apparent harm while domestic poultry such as turkeys and chicken develop disease when infected with […]
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Understanding The Immune System
By: Kristy Haugen
The immune system functions to protect the body from attack by infectious agents such as bacteria and viruses. The immune system has many complicated intricacies that can occur. Understanding how the immune system functions can help us understand how we protect ourselves from illness.
Acquired immunity involves production of recognition molecules that […]
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Influenza
By: Kristy Haugen
Despite the severity of influenza symptoms, most strains of influenza do not pose any great danger to healthy people in populations in which influenza is endemic. Healthy individuals usually recover from influenza in a couple of weeks. However, education regarding the influenza virus can help us to understand what poses a […]
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