InfoSource wrote:Recently I've been hearing a lot about the avian flu virus that some experts believe could cause a flu epidemic around the world and this virus is originating in Asia, Vietnam specifically I thinkRobanan wrote:I heard a lot about it too.
The avian flu (bird flu) has been dormant in Asia recently. The serious outbreak had happened in 2003, and another round in 2004. It had affected my area mildly, but awareness of the people and media coverage was high.
According to the CDC in USA, there's been outbreaks in Asia, as well as outbreaks in North America. For general info on the flu from CDC, refer to: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/
General info on avian flu from WHO is found here. I found this particular article interesting: Estimating the impact of the next influenza pandemic: enhancing preparedness
Vietname wasn't the first place to be affected, according to CDC's record:
Perhaps this issue, together with SARS, JE (Japanese B Encephalitis Virus), mad cow disease could go into a separate topic of 'Recent Epidemics'Background: Influenza A (H5N1) is a subtype of the type A influenza virus. Wild birds are the natural hosts of the virus -- hence, the name avian influenza or bird flu. The virus was first isolated from birds (terns) in South Africa in 1961. The virus circulates among birds worldwide. It is very contagious among birds and can be deadly to them, particularly domesticated birds like chickens.
Infection: The virus does not typically infect humans. In 1997, however, the first instance of direct bird-to-human transmission of influenza A (H5N1) virus was documented during an outbreak of avian influenza among poultry in Hong Kong; the virus caused severe respiratory illness in 18 people, of whom 6 died. Since that time, there have been other instances of H5N1 infection among humans (see General Information on Avian Influenza). However, H5N1 viruses thus far have not been capable of efficient human-to-human transmission; health officials continue to monitor the situation closely for evidence of H5N1 transmission between people.