Transcript
Avian Flu Scare
2005-2006
Scientific Information
Avian influenza, or “bird flu,” normally spreads only from bird to bird
It spreads quickly in domesticated birds and is usually fatal
The virus can mutate to spread from birds to humans, a strain called H5N1
The fear in 2005 was that this strain would mutate again to spread from human to human
Diagram of H5N1
Other Facts
The virus can be present in wild birds for a long time without making them sick
Virus cannot be transmitted through the handling of properly cooked birds and eggs
In Vietnam
Over the course of 2 years in Vietnam, the H5N1 strain of flu killed 140 million birds
It also infected 117 people, fatal to more than half of them
Most of the people who were infected had been in close contact with an infected bird for an extended period of time
Did not spread from person to person
In Romania
In late 2005, there was an outbreak of avian flu (bird to bird) in Romania
Medical teams began rounding up domestic birds and killing them in order to prevent the spread of the flu
They also sprayed disinfectant
In Asia
The H5N1 strain of the flu (bird to human) had been spreading in Asia since 1997
H5N1 broke out in Russia, Kazakhstan, and Turkey
The disease began spreading through migrating birds
Global Fear
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that if the virus mutated to spread from human to human, it could cause a global pandemic and kill 2 to 7 million people
In addition to the H5N1 strain, other strains of bird flu were mutating and researchers feared human to human infection was inevitable
US Fear and Preparation
US feared that the deadly flu would spread to America
The US Senate approved a plan to spend $4 billion in preparation for a pandemic
Vaccination
A vaccine was developed to be produced on a large scale
It was tested on 450 volunteers with promising results
The US paid a French company, Sanofi Pasteur, to get 20 million vaccines
Antiviral Drugs An antiviral drug, Tamiflu, seemed to be a
good defense for after people contracted the flu
As it was only tested on animals, no one could be certain of the results
The US had planned to have 12.3 million doses ready, but they needed 20 million doses
However, to reach demand, the Swiss company Roche, may have needed until 2008 to make enough of the drug
Preparation in Homes
The US government began recommending that people have extra supplies at home in case of a pandemic
This included extra food and water as well as medications
Outcome
Thankfully, the virus did not mutate to spread from human to human
The bird flu did not come to the US In America, there is currently a ban on
the importation of birds and bird products (ex: eggs) from countries affected by H5N1
Future Threat?
The US CDC (Center for Disease Control) is currently working with the WHO to develop another vaccine
Although the virus does not usually spread from person to person, scientists and researchers are still concerned that the virus could mutate to do so
Importance
The fear of this disease swept the nation and caused months of worrying
Although the flu did not cause a pandemic, it was the first time in modern day history that a virus caused so much concern in America
The End
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