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What Can You Do about the Bird Flu?

By Henry J. Fishman, M.D.
ConsumerAffairs.com

October 20, 2005

Dr. Henry Fishman • New This Week • Previous Topics • About Henry Fishman • Radio Features

The bird flu is another sure sign that life just isn’t fair. This year it is going to be you against the bird flu, a virus which could cause a pandemic and kill millions of people around the world.

What can you do?

Well, first of all you must know your enemy. The avian flu virus travels from bird to bird, from one chicken to another chicken.

Recently the flu strain spread to ducks and the virus has affected a few dozen people.

Bird Flu • FDA Gains Insight to Bird Flu Virus • New Flu Bug Proves Resistant to Antiviral Drugs • Report: Nation Not Ready For Flu Pandemic • Antiviral Overuse Could Aid Deadly Flu • 1918 Flu Virus Offers Clues to Prevent Pandemics • Scientists Report Progress Toward Bird Flu 'Cure' • Bird Flu Not the Only Animal Disease Threat • Bird Flu Vaccine Trials 'Encouraging' • FDA Frets about Flu Drugs' Side Effects • World Not Ready For Bird Flu • Researchers: Bird Flu Pandemic Inevitable • Bird Flu Scare in Virginia • FDA Issues Flu Vaccine Guidelines • FDA Approves First Bird Flu Vaccine • More Flu Bugs Show Resistance To Anti-Virals • Seasonal Flu Shot Might Offer Some Bird Flu Protection • Experts Concerned about Tamiflu Overuse • Study Finds Much Bird Flu Planning is Misplaced • U.S. Orders More Bird Flu Vaccine • Scientists Identify Genetic Changes That Could Lead to Bird Flu Pandemic • Drug Interaction Can Render Tamiflu Ineffective • New Bird Flu Variant Renews Pandemic Concerns • Researchers Find New Weapon Against Flu Virus • Researchers Test Spreadability of Bird Flu Viruses to Humans • GlaxoSmithKline Claims Bird Flu Breaththrough • Global Corporations Struggle to Plan For Pandemic • Flu Pandemic Is "Inevitable," EU Experts Warn • Bird Flu Virus May Have Mutated In Indonesian Cases • Indonesian Nurse May Have Bird Flu • Study Warns of "Chaos" and "Panic" If Bird Flu Strikes • Investigators Find No Evidence Bird Flu Virus Has Mutated • Scientists Fear Bird Flu Virus May Have Mutated • Airlines Queasy About Quarantining Bird Flu Victims • More ...

The bird flu goes right to the lungs and can cause a deadly pneumonia. None of us have been exposed to this form of influenza so none of us are immune to it.

If the bird flu either mutates or combines with the human flu virus it could get stronger and spread from person to person.

The virus could also get weaker.

Public health officials are combating the virus by killing infected chickens, isolating infected people and testing a promising vaccine in human trials.

You can do three things:

• Get a flu shot so you don’t get two viruses at once.

• Buy some surgical masks.

• Ask your doctor about Tamiflu. Tamiflu is the only medicine that works.

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