Friday, 22 August 2008
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Avian Influenza - update
Recently, it has been relatively quiet in Vietnam in regards to any further human cases of Avian Influenza/Bird Flu.  However, there are now increased concerns among medical researchers,
public health experts, and veterinarian experts about the spread of the avian influenza strain H5N1.  
 
ImageThis virus is spreading very quickly into the world’s poultry populations and wild bird populations and is now present in the Indian subcontinent, and the continents of Europe and Africa.  The concerns are based upon two important factors:

  • as the virus spreads and seeds itself within bird populations, both wild and domestic, the chance of eliminating the virus from these bird populations is now near impossible - however the culling of infected domestic bird populations is very crucial to reduce the chance of spread to humans.
  • in addition, as the virus spreads to a larger geographic area the potential for contact between infected poultry and humans also increases, and this carries the possibility that at some point a mutation might arise which produces a new strain of influenza virus, that can be transmitted between humans and lead to a pandemic.  
 
The possibility and the preparedness for such a new pandemic influenza lies within the sphere of global health organizations, international mutual assistance programs, veterinarian organizations, national governments and their health agencies, key pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturers, and ultimately contingency planning at all levels of society.
 
Mark Siefring M.D. M.S. from FMP HCMC
 
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