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With
avian flu death tolls on the rise and new cases of infected poultry
discovered in Egypt and France, scientists increasingly fear that a pandemic may be at hand. The H5N1
virus spreads from contact between humans and infected poultry. If this virus
mutates to a form easily transmittable between humans, it may ignite a worldwide
pandemic.
While
over 150 people have been infected H5N1 virus, transference to humans is said to
be rare and limited to cases of close contact with infected poultry. Thus
applying basic measures of hygiene, cooking, and staying clear of sick poultry
and wild birds can go a long way in saving lives.
What
Is Avian Flu?
The
H5N1 virus strain is just one out of 15 different subtypes of avian influenza.
But until now, only two subtypes have been highly pathogenic causing major
outbreaks; those being subtypes H5 and H7.
The
H5N1 has not yet become a human influenza virus; it is a species-specific virus
which has crossed the species barrier to infect humans in some cases.
According
to the World Health Organization (WHO), the method of transmission from poultry
to humans is by direct contact with infected poultry or objects contaminated
with their feces, as well as exposure while slaughtering. Luckily, transmission
from person to person has not been established significantly, thus the virus is
not a human influenza virus as yet.
The
avian virus’s current threat to human health consists of two main factors.
One, when it is transmitted from poultry to humans it causes severe disease such
as viral pneumonia and multi-organ failure which may be fatal. Two, if the virus
is given a chance to mutate and evolve into a form that is highly infectious to
humans, it could result in a pandemic.
The
first avian flu pandemic dates back to 1918 which resulted in the death of 40
million people, known in history as the ‘Spanish Flu’. Two other pandemics
occurred in 1957 and 1968 from different strains of the avian flu virus.
However, the recent H5N1 avian influenza virus first appeared in Hong Kong
in 1997 resulting in the death of six humans from 18 infected and the culling
of more than one million poultry.
Until
now, there have been sporadic incidents globally of avian flu outbreaks.
However, with recent outbreaks on the rise, the World Health Organization
believes that given enough time this strain of avian flu might evolve into
another pandemic.
As
safety precaution, WHO has recommended that eggs be thoroughly cooked, and all
meat to be cooked at least to temperatures of 70C.
Read
more facts about the avian influenza virus:
The
difference between an influenza pandemic and bird flu:
In
order for a pandemic to be declared, three conditions must be fulfilled:
1-
A
new influenza subtype emerges
2-
It
infects humans causing serious illness
3-
It
spreads easily and sustainably among humans
The
first two of these conditions are applicable to the current avian influenza. As
long as this virus continues to infect birds with sporadic incidents of human
infection, the threat of a pandemic is possible.
Find
out how you can be more prepared:
More
news on the current situation:
Learn
more:
Historical
Timeline of Avian Influenza (including past pandemics):
News
on IslamOnline.net:
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