Bird Flu Makes its Way Back into the Headlines
By Dana G Smith
Keywords: bird flu, avian flu, pandemic, H5N1,
words: 1736
Nations continue to report infections as tracking from 2003 reveals that many more nations have had infectious H5N1 within their borders!
In 2003 the H5N1 Avian influenza was found in one country, as of December 2008, figures put out by the government revealed that 67 countries had been affected. The World Health Organization released it figures on the total human death’s from H5N1. That figure was put at 249 confirmed deaths with 397 confirmed cases of the infection since the WHO data in 2003. Bird flu made its way in the headlines again as the result of the recent death of a Chinese woman on Jan 17th after she ‘developed symptoms of the H5N1 strain of bird flu on Jan 5″ according to a report by Reuters. So far China has had 34 cases confirmed there.
Moreover, the government has released its definition of the different flu terms to keep the public informed. These defined are Pandemic flu, Seasonal or common flu, Avian flu -A1, and Bird flu which is common used to refer to Avian flu.
Bird flu is commonly used to refer to Avian flu (see below). Bird flu viruses infect birds, including chickens, other poultry and wild birds such as ducks.
Avian flu (AI) is caused by influenza viruses that occur naturally among wild birds. Low pathogenic AI is common in birds and causes few problems. Highly pathogenic H5N1 is deadly to domestic fowl, can be transmitted from birds to humans, and is deadly to humans. There is virtually no human immunity and human vaccine availability is very limited.
Pandemic flu is virulent human flu that causes a global outbreak, or pandemic, of serious illness. Because there is little natural immunity, the disease can spread easily from person to person. Currently, there is no pandemic flu.
Seasonal (or common) flu is a respiratory illness that can be transmitted person to person. Most people have some immunity, and a vaccine is available.[source-http://www.pandemicflu.gov/]
In recent developments since the spread and fear of a major outbreak of Bird flu, a vaccine was sought. Fears of a flu outbreak common to the Pandemic of 1918 has brought alarms to many agencies, states, and nations. The fear is reasonable according to officials who say such a pandemic can and will occur. HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said that “many people mistakenly think influenza pandemics are a thing of the past, but influenza has struck hard in the era of modern medicine – much harder than most people realize. And it will strike again. Pandemics are hard things to talk about. Further he said The history of pandemics is not so much the history of health as it is the history of humanity. When pandemics strike, they cause massive sickness and terrible loss of life. They even reshape nations.” It is the likely and high probable occurrence that such a pandemic would hit the US and this has pushed the H5N1 to the top of the Governments hit list to be prepared for.
On the 1918 Pandemic, Stanford edu!
The influenza pandemic of 1918-1919 killed more people than the Great War, known today as World War I (WWI), at somewhere between 20 and 40 million people. It has been cited as the most devastating epidemic in recorded world history. More people died of influenza in a single year than in four-years of the Black Death Bubonic Plague from 1347 to 1351. Known as “Spanish Flu” or “La Grippe” the influenza of 1918-1919 was a global disaster. [source-The Influenza Pandemic of 1918-http://virus.stanford.edu/uda/]
Below is a quote from that time period!
“The 1918 has gone: a year momentous as the termination of the most cruel war in the annals of the human race; a year which marked, the end at least for a time, of man’s destruction of man; unfortunately a year in which developed a most fatal infectious disease causing the death of hundreds of thousands of human beings. Medical science for four and one-half years devoted itself to putting men on the firing line and keeping them there. Now it must turn with its whole might to combating the greatest enemy of all–infectious disease,” (12/28/1918).[source-ibid]
As this preparedness makes its way through government agencies and states, the development of a vaccine was the high mark on the list to have available. Now according to sources such a vaccine does exist and has been developed for the high level pandemic H5N1. The vaccine is ready for use safely in people and the country looks to this as it’s first line of defense.
Pre-pandemic influenza vaccine for H5N1:
The development of the H5N1 pre-pandemic influenza vaccine is one of the signal achievements of the past three years’ efforts. This vaccine has now been tested and proven safe for people and represents the Nation’s first line of defense in the event of a pandemic.
As of September 2008, HHS had purchased 12.2 million treatment courses of the pre-pandemic (H5N1) influenza vaccine. (A course is a cycle of treatment for one individual.) A small portion of this store of vaccines supports clinical trials now underway as well as those planned for the future. The rest is stockpiled and will be administered to protect healthcare workers, other first responders, and critical workers in the early stages of an influenza pandemic.
[source-http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/panflureport6.html]
The flu in the past has spread from bird to bird. But in the last few years it has been spread among other animals and then to humans as well. Humans till now have only contacted it by handling infected birds. H5N1 next step is to mutate to the form of air breathable and/or touch contact infection in humans which will make it deadly for the population. As of now the H5N1 has not mutated to such a level infecting humans but many believe that this will be the next step.
Government officials and experts believe that migratory birds that have been infected bring the H5N1 into countries. It is then spread among other birds and animals. So far any realized fear of actual pandemic has not happened. But the mutation of the H5N1 is a real possibility and would make the threat even more serious. In 2004 Japanese scientists warned of the mutation of Bird flu virus into a new strain even though other experts discounted it. [source-http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/7367.php]
In the spring of 2008 a Chinese expert on respiratory diseases, Zhong Nanshan was quoted by the Ming Pao newspaper relating the bird flu has shown signs of mutation and urged vigilance. Zhong said of the flu, “When avian flu is around and human flu appears, this will raise the chances of avian flu turning into a human flu.” [source-http://www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUSHKG228879._CH_.2400]
Over the years we have reported on this threat. From local experts and government agencies to the Federal agencies and Health organizations Bird flu is a real threat. One local morgue for a city close to us has brought in more body bags when the pandemic hits. They are figuring a high mortality rate with much disruption in the ability of the city to conduct any semblance of law and order. It would be at this time that Martial law would be instituted.
In the course of preparedness, officials seek to make room for extra hospital beds, and sickrooms where the infected can be stabilized. This would mean hospitals would not be able to handle it all. As a result schools and other places would be put into emergency medical stations. This would also mean that in such a high case mutation pandemic all the infrastructure, police, deliveries, food, gas, and much more could be limited drastically because of the pandemic hitting the drivers. As such, stocking food, water, and other necessities would be a goal both for civilian and government agencies. Further, the actual ability to stop the pandemic would take anywhere from 6 to 12 months. Although the government has a vaccine, it is still unproven against any mutated form. There is no way a vaccine can be truly effective against such a mutative virus if that virus does not exist yet. Because of this, if and when the mutation of H5N1 hits, this virus would then have to be sent to the lab to produce an vaccine to kill this particular form of H5N1. The only thing the government agencies are sure is, to be prepared for the H5N1 hitting. The expectation for this to occur is very high. For example the motto of the CERT team which helps in both city and state disasters is “It’s not a matter of if, but when!” This, of course, speaks to the issue to always be prepared as such things will always occur. This is the readiness response. The only trouble is, many have downplayed this ever occurring at such a level. Even the public doesn’t seem to be at all alarmed enough to prepare!
In conclusion, let me say that this will hit. When it does hit in its fullness, the third world nations will be hit the hardest. But even here in the USA, it will be devastating with countless deaths. It is here as well, I say to everyone, let them trust in the healing and keeping power of the LORD. But you have to believe, and be obedient to the faith which the Lord calls you.
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Psalms 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
~~~~~~~~~~~~BIO~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dana G Smith is the author of D-Day For America, a prophecy book of what is coming to America. Published by Xulon Press, ISBN: 1-59781-843-7. Dana is the editor of the W.I.B.R. online Web Sites.
He Hosts WARN Radio, “into the night”, airing Fridays 9 PM Pacific on The America Voice radio network. He also is The Watchman of W.A.R.N. Radio Network, www.warn-usa.com.
His articles appear on his own news sites at www.wingswatchman.org, www.ddayforamerica.com, www.warn-usa.com , and on many sites around the web.
Dana is a Watchman, “let the Watchman declare what he see’s Isaiah 21:6. He is also an investigative and research journalist who lives in the Midwest. You can contact him through his websites or email watchman at wingswatchman.org.