APFN
ALERT: "BIRD FLU HITS THE U.S.A."
Tue Feb 10 15:15:00 2004
64.140.158.77

BIRD FLU HITS THE U.S.A.
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/news/02102004_nw_birdflu.html

Bird Flu at 2nd Delaware Farm
DOVER, DE-February 10, 2004 — The Delaware Department of Agriculture has found avian influenza at a second farm in Delaware.

According to a news release, the Ag Department says the H-7-type avian influenza was found in a commercial flock of roaster-type chickens in northern Sussex County. A flock of 72-thousand birds in three chicken houses is being destroyed this afternoon.

The farm is at least five miles away from the southern Kent County farm identified Friday as being infected. The source of infection at the second farm is unknown.

Effective immediately, the state Ag Department is banning all sale of live poultry in Delaware.

The news release stresses the H-7 strain of the bird flu is not generally considered a danger to humans and is not the same strain that has caused illness and deaths in Asia.

State Secretary of Agriculture Michael Scuse says in the release that the state is taking immediate action to contain the disease, but he calls it a – quote – "serious situation for the Delmarva poultry industry" – unquote.

(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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Questions about bird flu
Bird flu, which is not uncommon among chickens and other
fowl, has the attention of global health authorities as it has spreads
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Bird flu on second US farm - Tests Confirm Bird Flu on 2nd Del. Farm
NEWS.com.au, Australia - 8 minutes ago
... Yesterday, Vietnamese health officials confirmed two more cases of the more virulent
strain of bird flu in people, including one man who died, bringing the ...
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,8650329%255E1702,00.html

Questions about bird flu
By the Associated Press
Bird flu, which is not uncommon among chickens and other fowl, has the attention of global health authorities as it has spreads.

Q: Why are scientists concerned about bird flu?

A: The bird flu virus could evolve into a form that is easily spread between people, resulting in a highly contagious and lethal disease.

Q: How could this happen?

A: Someone already infected with the human flu virus might catch the bird flu. The two viruses could recombine inside the victim's body, producing a hybrid that could readily spread from person to person.

Q: Why would that be so bad?

A: The resulting virus would likely be something humans have never been exposed to before. With no immune defenses, the infection could cause devastating illness, such as occurred in the 1918-19 Spanish flu pandemic, which killed an estimated 40 million to 50 million worldwide.

Q: How do people catch bird flu?

A: So far in this outbreak, human cases have been blamed on direct contact with infected chickens and their droppings.

Q: How is this outbreak of bird flu different from earlier ones?

A: This outbreak has spread more rapidly into more countries, increasing its exposure to more people in many locations. An outbreak in 1997 in Hong Kong was the first time that bird flu had spread to people, but it was much more quickly contained. Also, this outbreak has now killed seven people; six died in the Hong Kong episode.

Q: How can bird flu be stopped?

A: The chief strategy is to kill infected poultry.

Q: Is there a vaccine?

A: No. One is being developed, but it will probably take many months and may not be ready in time to stop a widespread human outbreak, if one occurs.

Q: What about drugs?

A: Flu drugs exist that may be used to both prevent people from catching bird flu and to treat those who have it. The virus appears to be resistant to two older generic flu drugs, amantadine and rimantadine. However, the newer flu drugs Tamiflu and Relenza are expected to work. Supplies could run out quickly if an outbreak occurs.

Q: Can people who catch the virus from birds pass it to others?

A: Yes, that was seen during the 1997 outbreak, but the disease was milder in those who caught it from infected people rather than birds.

Q: Is there more than one kind of bird flu?

A: Yes, at least 15 subtypes exist. The current one is called H5N1.

Q: How common is bird flu?

A: The disease occurs worldwide, but only the H5N1 strain has been shown to be deadly in people. Wild ducks carry flu but often do not get sick from it. All birds are susceptible to the infection. However, chickens and other domestic poultry are especially prone to rapidly fatal epidemics of the virus.

Q: Is bird flu the same as SARS?

A: No, although their symptoms are similar, SARS is caused by completely different viruses. Flu is also more contagious and cannot be as readily contained as SARS through isolating people who have the infection.
Copyright 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2004-01-27-bird-flu-q-a_x.htm

• Stage May be Set For Bird Flu Pandemic — rense.com, Tue Feb 10 15:39