Here is something I wrote not long ago regarding birdflu:
Avian influenza, a highly infectious disease, is caused by type A strain of the influenza virus. It was first identified more than 100 years ago in Italy and is found worldwide.
The strain of current concern is called ‘H5N1’ a fast mutating virus that can cause severe disease and even death in humans. H5N1 was first isolated in birds in South Africa in 1961. Wild birds are natural hosts, and it is most notably carried by waterfowl including wild ducks. This makes these particular birds more resistant to the virus. Domestic poultry are especially susceptible to the virus. Direct or indirect contact with wild birds makes domestic poultry especially susceptible to the virus. Live bird markets are also thought to spread the virus rapidly.
H5N1 was first documented as transferring from bird to humans in 1997 when it killed 6 people in Hong Kong. Over 1.5 million birds were destroyed within 3 days (the entire poultry population). This was strongly believed to have avoided a pandemic. Hong Kong has adopted strict sanitation conditions, as well as culling, vaccination and farmer compensation.
The virus is spread easily in poultry from farm to farm in rural areas and is transmitted by the bodily secretions and faecal matter of wild birds. (The virus is excreted both orally and by faeces for 10 days after surviving the infection).
The flu has occurred in humans when they have been in contact with infected poultry or even contaminated surfaces. In 2003 an outbreak was confirmed in North Korea. Since then more than 50 people have died across Asia, including 42 people in Viet Nam. More than 70% of waterfowl along the Mekong Delta in Viet Nam have tested positive for H5N1 and human deaths have also occurred in Cambodia and Thailand.
Because the virus does not commonly infect humans, there is little if any immune protection. If the virus mutates and is able spread easily from human to human an influenza pandemic (a worldwide outbreak) could occur. However, scientists are currently working on a vaccine, although it won’t be available for the coming months.
Countries in Asia have agreed to stockpile the antiviral drug ‘Tamiflu’ made by Switzerland’s Roche AG, although researchers are advising that ‘Relenza’ should also be stockpiled. These drugs can reduce the flu infection and can also quicken the recovery process. Roche has said it is considering donating an amount of Tamiflu to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Western countries are also in the process of stockpiling the drugs, leading to demands from the less affluent Asian countries that the drug production is opened up to generic manufacturers.
Check out the WHO and the CDC websites for more information.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/facts.htm http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/