Turkey reports possible bird flu case near Istanbul (5-year-old-boy with bird contact history)

AFP ^ | 1-15-06

[Mother Abigail]

Very true, we watch because we prefer knowledge to wishful thinking.

MA

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More from todays discussions


As I recall, the first symptoms include bleeding from the throat, along with fever, and a swollen body (same as the chickens manifest). One little girl touched her chicken's "tears" and then touched her own eyes. So it seems likely the virus can be transmitted via blood, tears, diarrhea, vomit, etc. - ie, bodily fluids.

Also, the nose/throat swabs are effective in determining positives only in the first day or so after exposure - once the virus gets implanted in tissue, it seems to go underground (ie, into the lower respiratory system). Then the diagnosis has to be assumed based on the emerging symptoms.

Early positives seem to respond very well to Tamiflu, while those who wait until the disease progresses into the lungs receive far less help from the Tamiflu.

The key here is early identification (or assumption) of exposure - soon enough so the nose/throat swabs can still give an accurate reading (ie, the brother sets in Ankara).

So, to summarize, the presence of
the virus is found in the nose/throat only for hours following exposure - so far. I guess we are assuming that it is not yet aerosolized at that early stage. H2H transmission after that would likely be by bodily fluids.

Finally, if I am understanding this correctly, once the H5N1 - at the current stage of evolution - mixes in a person or two who already has an upper respiratory virus - that is when the initial incubation in the nose/throat gains the ability to be aerosolized with sneezes, coughs, etc.

[EternalHope]

Thanks for the outstanding information.

[united1000]

Thanks for the ping and the information ....