Bird Flu

[Homer55]

Is it just me thats worried about this bird flu problem? Do i have any right to be worried, or is this just being blown out of proportion like the SARS virus?

[kevb0444]

Hi..we do have a bit of a right to worry as there no real treatment for the virus. At the moment we can only catch it from infected birds, and not each other but it's only a matter of time untill it mutates and then we could all be in for a hard time!!

[annavc]

I think you only need to be worried about it if you live and or work in very close proximity to birds. Yes it probably will mutate at some point and become more infectious to humans but if I were you I certainly wouldn't lose any sleep over it at the moment. As usual I think the media will blow it up out of proportion - this morning's front page of Metro being a prime example - a blown up picture of the virus with DON'T PANIC! written above it in the largest possible font - designed I have no doubt to make you do exactly that! Or am I just being cynical?!

[Homer55]

Iv just been looking into it, and found out that out of the 191 people that have had the Avian Flu over the past few years 103 have died, so it looks like there is a 48 percent chance of survival, as it stands, i think well be ok, Fingers Crossed...

[kh_merrills]

If a cat has been playing with or killed a bird (highly unlikely I know) that had bird flu and then cuddles up on us - could we catch it that way?

[annavc]

Not sure on that one - I would have thought the chances would be extremely remote though - I think you'd have to be very very very unlucky. Does make me glad though that I have a scaredy cat who'd rather watch the birds from behind the safety of a pane of glass than actually set foot outside!

[jake-the-peg]

Blown out of proportion like the SARS virus?

I can't believe you said that - Hundreds died! none in Britain but you woundn't want to go around Toronto saying that.

The UN's WHO managed to co-ordinate a worldwide response that otherwise could have been tens of millions.

Unlike SARS chicken flu can only be transmitted via animal faeces and I am very dubious about the probability of mutation into a human-human transmissible form

SARS was very very scary chicken flu will only be that scary if we see a mutation - I wouldn't lie awake worrying about it unless of course you're Bernard Matthews! :c)

[Jaq]

Am conducting research on virus strains similar to the so called "bird flu" so may be able to shed some light on it. At present, the virus is nothing to worry about. It is a virus who's DNA enables it to infect birds. As the physiology and immunology of humans is so different from birds it is unlikely that humans will contract the infection, hence why only people who are working with infected birds in very close proximity will get it. However, it is possible for the virus to become infective if it mutates and aquires the genes to allow it to infect humans. This was what happened in 1918 with Spanish Flu which originally started as a bird flu. So, for the time being there is nothing to really worry about as it is not a problem at the moment. In all likelyhood it should remain in birds. But in the event that it does cross to humans, just treat it like you would an outbreak of cold would be my advice, no need to panic.

[jake-the-peg]

Jaq

My understanding is that some pathology samples from 1918 were recoverred to show that this was a bird flu.

Is there actually evidence to show that this started as a different strain in birds and then mutated?

This is rather crucial as the key question is the probability of this mutation happening.

[meltoadhall]

not worried about it and I have 12 chooks at the bottom of the garden - if and when it becomes a problem that defra and not the media say is a real threat then I will act. But I will not react to mass hysteria.

[Toureman]

191 died from bird flu in the WORLD!

Theres over 191 a minute killed in road accidents in the world.

If you want to live longer I suggest you improve your driving skills!