Flu Pandemic
Avian Flu Pandemic & Humans
The H5N1 virus as the avian flu virus is medically known
is actually a virus which attacks only the birds.
Generally, this will affect only birds. Sometimes, it will
affect only a certain species of birds only. However, there
are some viruses which would spread to other birds hence creating
the avian flu pandemic which has scared the whole world off
chicken meat. The term flu pandemic means ‘world-wide
flu epidemic’ and this is what the avian flu pandemic
was, it was a world wide epidemic for birds.
Somehow, the virus mutated and crossed species to humans and
took them by surprise since they were not prepared for it.
This is what delayed the process of getting a vaccine or defensive
action against the spread of bird flu to humans. The skepticism
with which the new virus had given the virus enough time to
establish itself into humans and killed quite some human beings.
Only after the deaths of the infected people, the world took
real notice of the danger created by the mutated virus.
It was found that the avian flu was highly contagious and
might even infect human who handled the birds or were in touch
with their excreta. Touching would be enough to pass the flu
virus without eating it. This created world-wide panic and
many birds were killed and burnt in order to prevent the disease’s
spread any further.
Scientists immediately went to work to find a suitable defense
mechanism which could be in the form of a vaccine for humans,
for the birds and/or both. Right now, total quarantine of
the birds and symptomatic treatment provided is still the
best possible protection.
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