Wellness Tips: Avian Influenza
Learn more about today’s wellness tip; the avian influenza.
Influenza is on the minds of many this year. More so, is the worry of a pandemic related to the avian influenza. Avian influenza infects aquatic birds naturally. A pandemic occurs when the avian flu recombines to form a genetically new viral strain. Recombination refers to the avian adapted virus infecting pigs, recombining and infecting humans that are in close contact with the infected pigs. Then the epidemic occurs as this new virus is transmitted from human to human.
The avian flu (H5N1, 1997) originated from chickens in Hong Kong, killing 6 of 18 that were infected. Luckily, this strain was not readily transmissible from human to human. This strain then resurfaced in 2004 in Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand. This virus is only avian adapted at this time. Vaccines cannot be made until this virus recombines into a human adapted form.
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. Those at risk of a serious infection regarding the influenza virus are young children under the age of 5, persons aged 65 and older, and immunocompromised patients.
If you are one who is at risk of catching the influenza virus, you should be vaccinated. Maintaining good health during the winter months is very important to fighting influenza. Here are a few tips: get adequate rest, eat a well-balanced meal, take a liquid vitamin daily, and limit your stress.
by Kristy Haugen
