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All About Bird Flu
http://www.all-about-bird-flu.net/bird-flu-info.php ^

Posted on 02/20/2006 8:16:56 AM PST by Grendel9

Avian influenza (also known as bird flu, avian flu, influenzavirus A flu, type A flu, or genus A flu) is a flu due to a type of influenza virus that is hosted by birds, but may infect several species of mammals. It was first identified in Italy in the early 1900s and is now known to exist worldwide. A strain of the H5N1-type of avian influenzavirus that emerged in 1997 has been identified as the most likely source of a future influenza pandemic and is known to have infected 146 people in Asia since 2003, killing 76. *** In humans

In humans, avian flu viruses cause similar symptoms to other types of flu. [15] These include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, conjunctivitis and, in severe cases, severe breathing problems and pneumonia that may be fatal. The severity of the infection will depend to a large part on the state of the infected person's immune system and if the victim has been exposed to the strain before, and is therefore partially immune. In one case, a boy with H5N1 experienced diarrhea followed rapidly by a coma without developing respiratory or flu-like symptoms, suggesting non-standard symptoms.

The avian influenza subtypes that have been confirmed in humans, ordered by the number of known human deaths, are: H1N1 caused Spanish flu, H2N2 caused Asian Flu, H3N2 caused Hong Kong Flu, H5N1, H7N7, H9N2, H7N2, H7N3, H10N7.

(Excerpt) Read more at all-about-bird-flu.net ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: avianinfluenza; h5n1
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I ran across this site when googling the FLU. I was trying to find out where it originated and when. Not sure this site answers that question sufficiently, but the number of different strains is definitely impressive! And they have been tracking these strains for decades. To date there are 15 variations, 9 of them already found in humans...all with the potential of causing death under the right negative conditions in any individual.

So far, all of the cases of human infection have been through contact with live poultry. And to date, there is no evidence that these people are of the socio/economic means who would be found traveling on air lines or any commercial transport. Yet, the pandemic theory prevails.

It comes to mind that since most humans do NOT handle birds, the virus might well be detected first in dogs, cats, and other species which live part of their lives outdoors, then come into our homes where they have even closer contact with us than a bird handler does with his charges.

1 posted on 02/20/2006 8:16:57 AM PST by Grendel9
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To: Grendel9

My question is how is it transmitted? Mosquitoes or direct contact?

I have a reason for this question.


2 posted on 02/20/2006 8:20:05 AM PST by najida (Gluten free, Sugar Free, Low Salt, Low Fat, High Fiber = Eating grass for the rest of your life.)
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To: Grendel9

Check out this site. It is excellent.
http://crofsblogs.typepad.com/h5n1/


3 posted on 02/20/2006 8:23:00 AM PST by spyone
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To: Grendel9
It looks like dogs are not susceptible, but cats are. Cats as bird flu pandemic detectors

Cats, not canaries, will serve as sentinels for bird flu, said Dr. Lewis. There are 70 million cats in America, which makes them more common than songbirds and a more reliable source of information. An H5N1 outbreak at a Thai zoo laid waste to its tiger population, which had been fed infected chickens, revealing the feline vulnerabilities to the virus. So far, dogs have not proven susceptible to bird flu.

4 posted on 02/20/2006 8:23:34 AM PST by Chanticleer (May you be gruntled and combobulated in 2006.)
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To: najida
At the moment, you get it through contact with infected chickens, very close contact with very sick people, bird droppings in the environment and, apparently, gloves.

Gloves being the official explanation on how two children in Turkey got the virus. They "played" with the gloves after their father used them to remove of chickens from their coop for culling.
5 posted on 02/20/2006 8:24:54 AM PST by Termite_Commander (Warning: Cynical Right-winger Ahead)
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To: Slings and Arrows; MamaDearest

Yikes ping.


6 posted on 02/20/2006 8:25:32 AM PST by LucyT (It's 72 white grapes; it never was 72 virgins: http://www.chiesa.espressonline.it/dettaglio.jsp?id=7)
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To: Termite_Commander

OK, I have a bunch of birds and other pets too.

I'll just have to quarantine any new arrivals :)


7 posted on 02/20/2006 8:27:06 AM PST by najida (Gluten free, Sugar Free, Low Salt, Low Fat, High Fiber = Eating grass for the rest of your life.)
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To: najida
From CDC

Infected birds shed influenza virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Susceptible birds become infected when they have contact with contaminated secretions or excretions or with surfaces that are contaminated with secretions or excretions from infected birds. Domesticated birds may become infected with avian influenza virus through direct contact with infected waterfowl or other infected poultry, or through contact with surfaces (such as dirt or cages) or materials (such as water or feed) that have been contaminated with the virus.

Usually, “avian influenza virus” refers to influenza A viruses found chiefly in birds, but infections with these viruses can occur in humans. The risk from avian influenza is generally low to most people, because the viruses do not usually infect humans. However, confirmed cases of human infection from several subtypes of avian influenza infection have been reported since 1997. Most cases of avian influenza infection in humans have resulted from contact with infected poultry (e.g., domesticated chicken, ducks, and turkeys) or surfaces contaminated with secretion/excretions from infected birds. The spread of avian influenza viruses from one ill person to another has been reported very rarely, and transmission has not been observed to continue beyond one person.

8 posted on 02/20/2006 8:27:54 AM PST by Chanticleer (May you be gruntled and combobulated in 2006.)
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To: Grendel9
Actually, there has been at least one W.H.O. confirmed "cluster" of cases. Basically, the virus went bird-to-human-to-human-stop.

According to Indonesia, there have been an increasing number of human cluster cases lately.
9 posted on 02/20/2006 8:28:23 AM PST by Termite_Commander (Warning: Cynical Right-winger Ahead)
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To: Chanticleer

Thanks a bunch!

I'm not worried about me, but my flock of fids ;)


10 posted on 02/20/2006 8:31:00 AM PST by najida (Gluten free, Sugar Free, Low Salt, Low Fat, High Fiber = Eating grass for the rest of your life.)
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To: najida
Cats appear to be susceptible when they eat tainted poultry. Don't know why dogs have not been found susceptible. I would assume that herbivorous non-avian pets such as rabbits would not be susceptible... but I don't know. Here's a link about animals.

Bird & Animal Issues

11 posted on 02/20/2006 8:32:45 AM PST by Chanticleer (May you be gruntled and combobulated in 2006.)
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To: Chanticleer

I think I read about a recent seroprevalence study in Thailand they conducted on dogs and cats, and they found H5N1 antibodies in dogs too.

I'll see if I can find the article.


12 posted on 02/20/2006 8:34:26 AM PST by Termite_Commander (Warning: Cynical Right-winger Ahead)
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To: Chanticleer

OK,
so there is a chance that my cats could get it if they caught a sick wild bird (I feed them but they're busy little buggers).

Oh well, I'll just watch everyone closely.


13 posted on 02/20/2006 8:34:38 AM PST by najida (Gluten free, Sugar Free, Low Salt, Low Fat, High Fiber = Eating grass for the rest of your life.)
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To: Termite_Commander
Oh well. Here's the source, but you need to subscribe to "Nature" to read it.

Thai dogs carry bird-flu virus, but will they spread it?
14 posted on 02/20/2006 8:36:22 AM PST by Termite_Commander (Warning: Cynical Right-winger Ahead)
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To: Termite_Commander
Rats! No subscription.

Seems that in any case, dogs are less susceptible. I wonder if the stomach acids in dogs are stronger because they are more likely than cats to eat carrion? Or perhaps their immune systems are stronger?

It's a rough time to be a carnivore. Beef -- BSE. Sheep -- Scrapie. Pork -- Probably everything! Poultry -- avian flu. Fish -- mercury and other toxins. What's left for the non-vegan?

15 posted on 02/20/2006 8:53:31 AM PST by Chanticleer (May you be gruntled and combobulated in 2006.)
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To: Chanticleer
Found the full article posted on another forum.

I don't think I can repost what I'd imagine is copyrighted material, so I'll just direct you to the site.

Thai dogs carry bird-flu virus, but will they spread it?
16 posted on 02/20/2006 9:08:07 AM PST by Termite_Commander (Warning: Cynical Right-winger Ahead)
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To: Termite_Commander

Thanks. Looks good for dogs, anyway.


17 posted on 02/20/2006 9:24:12 AM PST by Chanticleer (May you be gruntled and combobulated in 2006.)
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To: Grendel9
The two sites I use most often for this ( I get tired of looking for information only to get pop-ups and very little info) are,

Avianinfluenza.org

CDC.gov

18 posted on 02/20/2006 10:13:34 AM PST by Post-Neolithic
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To: Chanticleer

Time to cull the cats!


19 posted on 02/20/2006 10:22:12 AM PST by MI
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To: MI

Save the KITTIES!


20 posted on 02/20/2006 11:43:54 AM PST by Chanticleer (May you be gruntled and combobulated in 2006.)
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