tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377096492020-06-04T02:58:01.401-07:00FLU EPIDEMICEvery year, cold and influenza (flu) viruses launch an all-out assault on millions of people, afflicting us with nasty symptoms: stuffy noses, sore throats, sneezing, coughing , fevers , body aches and pains. Prevention is your best defense against cold and flu viruses, health experts say.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger125125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37709649.post-47436229284395369422019-12-06T05:36:00.000-08:002019-12-06T05:36:23.532-08:00Protein coat of virus Viruses are small obligate intracellular parasites, which by definition contain either a RNA or DNA genome surrounded by a protective, virus-coded protein coat. <br /><br />A fully assembled infectious virus is called a virion. The simplest virions consist of two basic components: nucleic acid (single- or double-stranded RNA or DNA) and a protein coat, the capsid. <br /><br />All viruses have capsids that enclose and protect their nucleic acid. Each capsid is constructed from identical subunits called capsomers made of protein. The capsid together with the nucleic acid are nucleoscapsid. <br /><br />The nucleic acid of a virion is enclosed within a protein coat, or capsid, composed of multiple copies of one protein or a few different proteins, each of which is encoded by a single viral gene. Because of this structure, a virus is able to encode all the information for making a relatively large capsid in a small number of genes. The capsid together with the nucleic acid are nucleoscapsid. In enveloped viruses, the nucleocapsid is surrounded by a lipid bilayer derived from the modified host cell membrane and studded with an outer layer of virus envelope glycoproteins. <br /><br />Capsids are formed as single or double protein shells and consist of only one or a few structural protein species. Therefore, multiple protein copies must self assemble to form the continuous three-dimensional capsid structure. <br /><br />What are the functions of capsids or protein coat? <br />*Protect genome from atmosphere (May include damaging UV-light, shearing forces, nucleases either leaked or secreted by cells). <br />*Virus-attachment protein-interacts with cellular receptor to initiate infection. <br />*Delivery of genome in infectious form. May simply “dump” genome into cytoplasm (most +ssRNA viruses) or serve as the core for replication (retroviruses and rotaviruses).<br /><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext;">Protein coat of virus </span></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37709649.post-23996388193658507932019-11-23T19:07:00.000-08:002019-11-23T19:07:12.494-08:00Phenotype,: characteristics of an organism result from the interaction with the environment<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:RelyOnVML/> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]-->Genotype and phenotype are terms that are used to differentiate between the genetic makeup of an individual and which genes are to be expressed respectively. <br /><br />Genotype is the complete gene set of an organism. Phenotypes are caused by the interactions of the many different proteins created by DNA. This process can get incredibly complicated. Even in the lowest lifeforms there are thousands of genes, creating thousands of different proteins. When some of these genes are expressed depending on the environmental conditions, characteristic features of that particular organism can be observed. These observable characters are referred to as the phenotype. The part of the phenotypes that is not visible can be observed in biochemical assays. <br /><br />The phenotype of each individual is usually considered as an interaction between two variables: the genes each individual carries and the environment that they experience. The word ‘environment’ refers to general external factors that are (or could) be shared by groups of individuals, such as diet, exposure to pathogens and lifestyle. <br /><br />The phenotype may change constantly throughout the life of an individual because of environmental changes and the physiological and morphological changes associated with aging. <br /><br />In natural evolving systems, phenotypes are organized into mutationally connected networks of genotypes, which increase the likelihood for an evolving population to encounter novel adaptive phenotypes (i.e., its evolvability). <br /><b>Phenotype,: characteristics of an organism result from the interaction with the environment</b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37709649.post-49044986655629227202019-11-09T17:40:00.000-08:002019-11-09T17:40:01.885-08:00What is genotype? Genotype and phenotype are terms that are used to differentiate between the genetic makeup of an individual and which genes are to be expressed respectively. Genotype is the complete set of genes in its DNA responsible for a particular trait. <br /><br />Genotype refers specifically to the genes, not the traits; that is, the raw information in an organism's DNA. <br /><br />Genotype is determined by the makeup of alleles, pairs of genes responsible for particular traits. An allele can be made up of two dominant genes, a dominant and a recessive gene, or two recessive genes. The combination of the two, and which one is dominant, determines what trait the allele will express. <br /><br />It is a part of the sequences of the genome or the genetic makeup of that organism. The genotype carries the instructions for development and functioning of a cell. Hence, it is referred to as the “blueprint” of a cell. These instructions are written by the aid of the genetic code. Genotype is one factor that determines the characteristics, appearance and behavior of a particular organism. <br /><br />The appearance and the behavior can be altered by inherited epigenetic factors and environmental factors. The environment and genotype interact to make the final appearance of an organism (e.g. humans grow taller this century due to better food & medicine).<br /><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext;">What is genotype? </span></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37709649.post-90777270734454411572019-10-28T18:17:00.000-07:002019-10-28T18:17:03.816-07:00Characteristics of VirusesViruses are small obligate intracellular parasites, which contain a single type of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) and a protein coat, sometimes enclosed by an envelope composed of lipids, proteins and carbohydrates. They are not cells or composed of cells. <br /><br />The protein coat, or capsid, of an individual virion (fully assembled virus or virus particle) is composed of multiple copies of one or more types of proteins. These proteins assemble, forming structural units called capsomeres. <br /><br />Biologists consider viruses to be non-living because: <br />*Are not cells <br />*Do not grow or respond to their surroundings <br />*Cannot make food, take in food, or produce wastes <br />*Viruses do not respond to stimuli. <br /><br />They multiply by using the host cells synthesizing machinery to cause the synthesis of specialized elements that can transfer the viral nucleic acid to other cells. <br /><br />Viruses are inert outside the host cell. Small viruses, e.g., polio and tobacco mosaic virus, can even be crystallized. Viruses are unable to generate energy. As obligate intracellular parasites, during replication, they fully depend on the complicated biochemical machinery of eukaryotic or prokaryotic cells. The main purpose of a virus is to deliver its genome into the host cell to allow its expression (transcription and translation) by the host cell.<br /><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext;">Characteristics of Viruses</span></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37709649.post-41066884339124059392019-10-16T10:47:00.000-07:002019-10-16T10:47:11.519-07:00Immune system in human bodyEarly immune system discoveries were largely fuelled by a desire to prevent the spread of disease and develop better treatments for the sick. As far back as the eighteenth century, microbiologists sought to inoculate healthy people against diseases. In fact, vaccines were created to combat illness before anyone could prove that microbes caused illness, or that immune cells could kill microbes.<br /><br />The immune system is a network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against attacks by “foreign” invaders. These are primarily microbes (germs)—tiny, infection-causing organisms such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi.<br /><br />The immune system provides defense against all the microorganisms and toxic cells to which human body are exposed. When the immune system hits the wrong target or is crippled, however, it can unleash a torrent of diseases, including allergy, arthritis, or AIDS.<br /><br />Immune System Components:<br />•<i>specific cells</i>-lymphocytes, macrophages, etc.,originate from precursor cellsin the bone marrow and patrol tissues by circulating in either theblood or lymphatics, migrating into connective tissue or collecting in immune organs<br />•<i>lymphatic organs</i>-thymus, spleen, tonsils, lymph nodes<br />•<i>diffuse lymphatic tissu</i>e-collections of lymphocytes and other immune cells dispersed in the lining of the digestive and respiratory tracts and in the skin<br /><b>Immune system in human body</b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37709649.post-79241413234696545732019-10-07T07:25:00.001-07:002019-10-07T07:25:33.525-07:00B-cells and T-cellsB-cells and T –cells have amazing memories and remember an old infection for a long time. These cells are like soldiers facing an enemy they have fought before. They know the enemy’s old tricks and weapon and how to fight them.<br /><br />The T-cells quickly launch and attack, using effective antibodies that worked in the past.<br /><br />Phagocytes another kind of white blood cells, work with lymphocytes to destroy germs. But phagocytes play a different role. After leukocytes mark antigens for destruction, phagocytes actually destroy them.<br /><br />They do this by surrounding these harmful invaders, then “eating” them. They digest the invaders and turn them unto harmless fragments.<br /><br />White blood cells work with two important organs in the body: the spleen and the thymus. Spleen is located in the upper side of abdomen between ribs and hips.<br /><br />One of the spleen’s major jobs is to filter blood. This filtering process removes unwanted material like infection-causing pathogens as well as old or damaged blood cells.<br /><br />The hard-working spleen is also a place where lymphocytes get activated so that they can destroy invading pathogens.<br /><br />The thymus is located in the center of the upper chest, and its job is to produce T-cells.<br /><br />T-cells develop in the thymus. The T-cells learn to distinguish between substances that belong in the body and those that do not. T-cells must recognized their immune system teammates to communicate with them.<br /><br />T-cells die when they fail to recognize other immune cells. T-cells also die if they mistakenly target normal body cells for destruction.<br /><br />Another white blood cells producer is bone marrow. This spongy material in the bones plays an important role in the immune system.<br /><br />Blood vessels that run though bone marrow transport blood loaded with white blood cells.<br /><br />Plus, the bone marrow itself produce a variety of blood cells: red blood cells that carry oxygen, platelets that help blood clot, and infection fighting white blood cells.<br /><br />Bone marrow also produces B-cells. B-cells stay in the bone marrow to complete development, once they are fully formed. B-cells can produce antibodies against many invaders that try to attack the human body.<br /><b>B-cells and T-cells</b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37709649.post-1931892452343863002018-11-12T17:12:00.001-08:002018-11-12T17:12:29.091-08:00H5N1 in 1996/1997The precursor of the H5N1 influenza virus that spread to humans in 1997 was first detected in China of Guangdong province, in 1996, when it caused a moderate number of deaths in geese. However, it attracted very little attention at the time.<br /><br />In late March and early May 1997, an H5N1 influenza virus caused high mortality on three chicken farms in the New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China.<br /><br />In 1997 outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 are reported in poultry at farms and live animal markets in Hong Kong. Human infections with avian influenza H5N1 are reported in Hong Kong. Altogether, 18 cases (6 fatal) are reported in the first known instance of human infection with this virus.<br /><br />Since their first recognition, highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses H5N1 influenza viruses have become endemic in poultry populations in Southeast Asia and have spread to more than 60 countries. The extent of control measures, the number of live poultry markets, and the numbers of poultry backyard flocks may have determined if highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses H5N1 viruses became endemic or caused only localized outbreaks.<br /><b>H5N1 in 1996/1997 </b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4sUUz5KVpho/W-ok3dcyN-I/AAAAAAAASR4/BL5-Uvsm-q8Y_bb8AYCQbgVuPPinTSocwCLcBGAs/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="222" data-original-width="411" height="215" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4sUUz5KVpho/W-ok3dcyN-I/AAAAAAAASR4/BL5-Uvsm-q8Y_bb8AYCQbgVuPPinTSocwCLcBGAs/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37709649.post-44758919530182978672018-09-28T10:41:00.000-07:002018-09-28T10:41:26.643-07:00The Spread of InfluenzaInfluenza causes substantial disease burden worldwide. An estimated 10%-20% of the world’s population is affected each year by seasonal epidemic influenza. Pandemics arise through antigenic shifts resulting in a new virus that is not related to previous human seasonal influenza viruses.<br /><br />The spread of bird flu across Asia and parts of Europe and the Middle East, as well as the occasional infections of humans with disconcertingly high number of deaths, have cause concern about potential new global epidemic of influenza.<br /><br />There is limited scientific evidence on important aspects of disease transmission and on the effectiveness of different strategies to limit transmission.<br /><br />Influenza or simply “flu” is caused by a virus. It occurs not only in occasional major pandemic outbreaks but also in epidemics or variable severity almost every winter. Influenza replicates in epithelial cells throughout the respiratory tree (both upper and lower tracts). Human viruses preferentially bind to cell surface receptors terminating in an α(2,6)-linkage in contrast to avian viruses which prefer an α(2,3)-linkage.<br /><br />The term “influenza” has been derived from the Italian influential in the mid 1300s, indicating that, at the time, the illness was believed to result from astrological influences. Yet, the aetiology of the disease and the explanation for its peculiar behaviors remained elusive.<br /><br />Influenza is thought to spread by droplet, contact and airborne routes. However, the relative likelihood of spread due to each of these modes is not well understood. Respiratory droplets are currently thought to be the main mode of transmission.<br /><br />There is also some suggestion that influenza may spread through airborne aerosols that are expelled through coughing or sneezing or aerosol generating procedures such as bronchoscopy or intubation.<br /><b>The Spread of Influenza </b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CP64PGXUL54/W65nl_PbX1I/AAAAAAAASCM/8jip9HJHTWc2eZX-wcX3XougRIMdNUkeACLcBGAs/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1279" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CP64PGXUL54/W65nl_PbX1I/AAAAAAAASCM/8jip9HJHTWc2eZX-wcX3XougRIMdNUkeACLcBGAs/s320/1.jpg" width="255" /></a></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37709649.post-50986489171152539612018-08-23T19:14:00.000-07:002018-08-23T19:25:16.274-07:00When is the flu season?The flu illness is caused by influenza viruses. People are more likely to get flu between October and April. The worst months for infection in the northern hemisphere are December through March. Scientists are not completely sure why this flu “flu season” exists every year but they have a few ideas.<br /><br />First, the flu virus survives better in cool and wet weather. It is possible that the viruses can survive longer outside a person’s body, as when they are sneezed out, when the weather is cool. Also, the people tend to crowd together during the colder months. Flu viruses have short distances to travel because windows are tightly shut. Many holidays also take place during the colder months of the year.<br /><br />According to Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, if peak influenza activity is an accurate measure, flu viruses prefer the weather either cold and dry or humid and rainy, according to an analysis of climate variables and flu patterns around the world. Researchers from several US universities and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reached this conclusion primarily by studying flu and climate data from 78 sites in 40 countries. Sponsored in part by the NIH, the study was led by geographer James D. Tamerius, PhD, of Columbia University as first author.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DhzFCVjbiso/W39pmaUaK7I/AAAAAAAAR2M/wfOniSrO00wfWUx_rnhPPDD3k89BJLP7QCLcBGAs/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="596" height="204" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DhzFCVjbiso/W39pmaUaK7I/AAAAAAAAR2M/wfOniSrO00wfWUx_rnhPPDD3k89BJLP7QCLcBGAs/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Second, wherever people gather to celebrate, the festivity can become a party for viruses, too. They can easily move from person to person in a crowded space.<br /><br />But people can get the flu any time of year especially due to the number of people who travel around the world. Influenza viruses exist around the world. People may carry the viruses with them when they travel, exposing fellow travelers regardless of the time of year.<br /><br />In the United States, the peak of flu season generally occurs anywhere from late December through March. The health impact (infections and death) of a flu season varies from year to year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention monitors circulating flu viruses and their related disease activity and provides influenza reports each week from October through May.<br /><b>When is the flu season? </b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tM4YddnbAak/W39ppZ5-ZVI/AAAAAAAAR2Q/zI5wFJyU3BwmHcTkV2JDpAAe4R8wi4YKACLcBGAs/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="800" height="152" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tM4YddnbAak/W39ppZ5-ZVI/AAAAAAAAR2Q/zI5wFJyU3BwmHcTkV2JDpAAe4R8wi4YKACLcBGAs/s320/2.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37709649.post-66069618219409271712018-07-20T02:03:00.001-07:002018-07-20T02:03:40.167-07:00The Start of a ColdCommon cold viruses can be spread by three mechanisms:<br />o Direct contact<br />o Indirect contact<br />o Inhaling viral particles<br /><br />The rhinovirus, coronavirus and the adenoviruses are responsible for this self-limiting upper respiratory tract infection.<br /><br />Once the virus has invaded the nasal cavity and bronchial epithelia, it causes damage to the ciliated cells, which, in turn, release inflammatory mediators and cause inflammation of the nose tissue lining. Colds take one to three days to develop. They usually begin with a sore throat, followed by sneezing, sometimes a fever, a runny or stuffy nose, and cough. The flu can be much more severe, it usually starts suddenly and can affect the whole body.<br /><br />Persons with colds shed viruses the most on the second day of illness, however, low levels of viral shedding may persist for up to two weeks.<br /><br />Onset & duration of symptoms:<br />• Usually comes on gradually<br />• Most common Sept-April<br />•Adults will get 2-4 colds/year<br />•Children will get up to 12 colds/year<br />•Colds are a powerful asthma trigger<br />•Lasts about oneweek<br /><b>The Start of a Cold </b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qiA75UwUmkI/W1GlY2j9feI/AAAAAAAARp0/vLF2ubwI-x07m61v3Q6C1RVe7fLuc1y5QCLcBGAs/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="319" data-original-width="485" height="262" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qiA75UwUmkI/W1GlY2j9feI/AAAAAAAARp0/vLF2ubwI-x07m61v3Q6C1RVe7fLuc1y5QCLcBGAs/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37709649.post-43319751096868068782018-07-19T22:03:00.000-07:002018-07-19T22:03:23.202-07:00Influenza- Symptoms and TreatmentInfluenza is a common contagious disease with flu-like symptoms. Influenza is caused by a sphere or filament-shaped virus. The most problematic part of these viruses is that they keep on changing. Such mutated virus strains can adversely affect a person even though that person had immunity to another strain of the influenza virus.<br /><br />And the situations worsens if separate strains combine. Such a combination can be really fatal as the newly emerged virus gains in its immunity against the extant vaccines. A person becomes rather weak during the bouts of influenza. The patient’s immune system also fails to operate naturally. As a result, influenza can turn into another life threatening ailment known as pneumonia. In fact, annually approximately 25,000 American citizens die because of influenza or pneumonia. Medical reports have shown that people above the sexagenarian age group have been fatally affected by this twin disease. The virus responsible for causing influenza has been classified into three types, viz., A, B and C. While A affects mankind and animals, B and C targets only human beings. Mentionably, the third type of influenza leads to only to mild infection. The latest panacea for influenza known as the 2004 Influenza Vaccine fights is composed of one strain of B and two strains of A. <br /><br />Influenza can attack anyone at anytime. However, people are particularly susceptible to influenza during the changes of seasons. During influenza, the main affected area is the respiratory channel. When the weather turns cold from hot or vice versa, many people irrespective of colds do fall prey to influenza. The disease can easily flow from one person to another. The primary routes for its transmission are sneezing and coughing. Influenza can also spread if one uses the clothes particularly the hanky or the towel used by an influenza affected person. Influenza is accompanied by clogged nose, headache, or at times running nose, temporary pain of joints and running body temperature. Mentionably, influenza and its symptoms disappear within three to four days whether one takes medicines or not. However, influenza can also be a silent stalker. Under such circumstances, it is always advisable to try and cure influenza naturally. If the symptoms continue for a longer period and show little signs of disappearing, do consult a doctor. The best way to cure influenza is to go for hot foot baths, and gargle if one suffers from sore throat.<br /><br />Many people take a tea spoonful of raw and unadulterated mustard oil to get back the normal voice. If one experiences mild fever, one can simply take the precaution of not bathing in cold water. Keep the body and the feet warm. Using cold ointments on the back side of the body, armpits, feet and on the chest besides around the nostrils also provide relief by means of the strong evaporation of those ointments. It has also been found that homeopathic treatment is the most ideal strategy to cure influenza. This is especially true with children. Homoeopathic medicines can also be taken by the adults. The homoeopathic treatments give the best results in cases of adults who are teetotalers. Nonetheless, these medicines are cheaper than the allopathic ones. Besides, the homoeopathic medications do have any side effects although they take some time to deliver the goods. <br /><br />Bird influenza: Nowadays, influenza has taken another deadly form. It is commonly known as the avian influenza as the virus gets transmitted to human beings from birds including poultry( hen, duck, turkey). The cause of this type of influenza has medically proved to be the H5N1 virus. Intensive researches are on to find a viable vaccine for avian influenza. The H5N1 virus has been found to be affecting people mainly in Europe and Asia. In most of such cases, avian influenza spreads from the avian species to one person. To obviate any possibility of the H5N1 virus spreading to man, one must stay from making any contact with the birds during any avian influenza epidemic. Symptoms of bird flu in humans can be similar to those resulting from typical flu-like symptoms, like fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches. Other severe symptoms are eye infections, pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases<a href="http://www.articlesfactory.com/"><img alt="Free Web Content" border="0" src="http://www.articlesfactory.com/pic/x.gif" /></a>, and other severe and life-threatening complications.<br /> <div class="txt-small-regular"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a class="small-link" href="http://www.articlesfactory.com/" title="Free Articles">Free Articles</a> from ArticlesFactory.com</span></div><div class="txt-small-regular"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Nilutpal Gogoi is a writer and a freelance journalist having more than 18 years of service in several audio-visual and print media reputed organizations in North East India. He has published one popular adventure book for children and has published more than 1000 articles for various sites, as such<a href="http://www.publichealthclub.com/" target="_new">http://www.publichealthclub.com/</a></i></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37709649.post-70546810810906617152018-06-06T01:54:00.002-07:002018-06-06T01:54:42.682-07:00Symptoms of common coldThe term “common cold” refers to a mild upper respiratory viral illness. It is self-limited therefore it will go away without treatment. It is the most frequent acute illness in the United States. It is separate and a distinctly different illness than influenza, throat infection, bronchitis, sinusitis, pertussis, and allergic rhinitis.<br /><br />The common cold is caused by various respiratory viruses, most commonly a rhinovirus. These viruses, which concentrate in nasal secretions, are easily transmitted through sneezing, coughing, or nose blowing. Adults have an average of two to four episodes annually, and young children may have as many as six to eight episodes.<br /><br />Colds take one to three days to develop. They usually begin with a sore throat, followed by sneezing, sometimes a fever, a runny or stuffy nose, and cough. The flu can be much more severe, it usually starts suddenly and can affect the whole body.<br /><br />The second set of symptoms are what prompt most patients to see a physician for relief. Symptoms usually peak around day 3 or 4 and begin to resolve by day 7. Nasal discharge, appearing at the peak of illness, can become thick and purulent.<br /><br />Common cold viruses can be spread by three mechanisms:<br />* Direct contact,<br />* Indirect contact,<br />* Inhaling viral particles <br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:RelyOnVML/> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-MY</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> 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table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style><![endif]--> <br /><div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst"><b><span lang="EN-US">Symptoms of common col</span>d</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KgAREtD1l8s/WxehLaGiCfI/AAAAAAAARbQ/BNdZMfyIUXcKwb3sXa9egLBIkdFmrtsZwCLcBGAs/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="785" height="265" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KgAREtD1l8s/WxehLaGiCfI/AAAAAAAARbQ/BNdZMfyIUXcKwb3sXa9egLBIkdFmrtsZwCLcBGAs/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div><br /> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37709649.post-71835568078427940132018-04-30T07:42:00.001-07:002018-04-30T07:42:10.780-07:00Influenza A virus subtype H1N1 Influenza A virus is a single stranded RNA virus can cause a severe and wide spread disease that is even more transmissible than the seasonal Influenza. The pandemic Influenza H1N1 virus first originated in Mexico 2009 then spread all over the world.<br /><br />The influenza A virus can mutate in two different ways; antigenic drift, in which existing antigens are subtly altered, and antigenic shift, in which two or more strains combine. Antigenic drift causes slight flu mutations year on year, from which humans have partial, but not complete, immunity. By contrast, the new strain of H1N1 appears to have originated via antigenic shift in Mexican pigs.<br /><br />Influenza viruses can be directly transmitted from pigs to people and from people to pigs. Human infection with flu viruses from pigs are most likely to occur when people are in close proximity to infected pigs, such as in pig barns and livestock exhibits housing pigs at fairs. Human-to-human transmission of H1N1 flu can also occur.<br /><br />Influenza A viruses have antigenically related nucleocapsid and matrix proteins, but are classified into subtypes based on their haemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N) antigens. The H1N1 virus is an enveloped RNA virus belonging to the family orthomyxoviridae, and name comes from the two surface antigens: H1 (Hemagglutinin type 1) and N1 (Neuraminidase type 1).<br /><br />Influenza A (H1N1) viral infections have been primarily seen among the young and mid-aged people with no history of previous infection, suggesting that they are the most vulnerable for infection.<br /><br />During pandemic 1918 influenza H1N1 caused an estimated 20-50 million deaths worldwide and accounted for 675,000 deaths in the United States. The most striking characteristics of the 1918 pandemic were the unusually high death rate among the otherwise healthy age group of 15-34 year olds. Healthy people, as well as those in frail condition, were equally affected, and many died within the first few days after infection.<br /><b>Influenza A virus subtype H1N1</b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZkmIIoLDSp8/WucrOESGM6I/AAAAAAAARN0/a7TAb9oK4Pkelo4RnIPpRM9AvtaI5nAlwCLcBGAs/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="239" data-original-width="300" height="254" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZkmIIoLDSp8/WucrOESGM6I/AAAAAAAARN0/a7TAb9oK4Pkelo4RnIPpRM9AvtaI5nAlwCLcBGAs/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37709649.post-36089062122557173262018-03-29T17:51:00.002-07:002018-03-29T17:51:51.312-07:00The meaning of pandemics Pandemics are epidemics on a much larger scale. The term pandemic describes an epidemic with wide international geographical reach. Pandemics typically include a large number of cases. It affects a very high proportion of the global population.<br /><br />In the World Health Organization (WHO) definition, the microbial agent that causes a pandemic must be a new one, never before found in human beings, and spread easily and comfortably among humans.<br /><br />Although often used to describe widespread outbreaks of infectious disease, the term pandemic has also been used to report high rates of chronic illness.<br /><br />Infectious diseases have decimated empires, determined the outcome of wars, and shaped the fate of humanity since ancient times, and they remain, to this day, a major medical and socioeconomic challenge, responsible for over 25% of the annual mortality worldwide.<br /><br />Obesity, a chronic illness in North America, has been called a pandemic. The H1N1 influenza virus, SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), and human immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) are examples of pandemics of infections viruses.<br /><b>The meaning of pandemics </b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FP1z7AEVEgk/Wr2KBCseVxI/AAAAAAAAQ_0/xJ2MJXgRCeci4X7nJeAv_DMTnE2Ai8iMgCLcBGAs/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="421" data-original-width="768" height="218" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FP1z7AEVEgk/Wr2KBCseVxI/AAAAAAAAQ_0/xJ2MJXgRCeci4X7nJeAv_DMTnE2Ai8iMgCLcBGAs/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37709649.post-86632479583986437172018-02-27T22:04:00.000-08:002018-02-27T22:04:02.445-08:00Spanish flu in United States in 1918The epidemic affected the course of history and was a terrifying presence at the of World War I, killing more Americans in a single year than died in battle in World War I, World war II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.<br /><br />The second wave of influenza in the United States was triggered in the fall of 1918 by the return troops from Europe. It was appearing among a group of sailors who docked at the Commonwealth Pier in August. And then some of those sailors got sick. On August 28 eight men got the flu. The next day, 58 were sick. By day four, the sick toll reached 81. A week later, it was 119, and that same day t first civilian was admitted to Boston City Hospital sick with flu.<br /><br />The flu hit Fort Devens, a stone’s throw from Boston. But when the first Fort Devens victim, a soldier of Company B, 42nd Infantry went on sick on the seventh, his illness was diagnosed as cerebrospinal meningitis. Later, overnight, Fort Devens became a scene out of hell.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DH9R23SWtm4/WpZGGgIdtTI/AAAAAAAAQvc/cDJBgGGHI6AQCZnJ6PJhhPtqYLNKOYwngCLcBGAs/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1246" height="256" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DH9R23SWtm4/WpZGGgIdtTI/AAAAAAAAQvc/cDJBgGGHI6AQCZnJ6PJhhPtqYLNKOYwngCLcBGAs/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The Surgeon General of the United States ordered Colonel Victor Vaughan, along with other leading physicians, to inspect and to evaluate conditions at Fort Devens. They were astounded to see for themselves that influenza was spreading like wildfire among the young soldiers.<br /><b>Spanish flu in United States in 1918</b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37709649.post-89402402041970059502018-01-17T07:42:00.000-08:002018-01-17T07:42:16.728-08:00Spanish fluPopular names of flu virus generally refer to the geographical region where the outbreak began or was first reported such as the “Spanish Flue” or the “Hong Kong Flu” an strains are often referred it by their subtype as well, for instance theH5N1 strain of avian flu.<br /><br />The last century pandemics were Spanish flu n 1918, Asian flu in 1857, Hong Kong flu in 1968 and another pandemic that occurred in France and England in 1989. The worst of these pandemics was the Spanish flu, in which 500 million people were infected and about 4 million died. Furthermore, many of the dead were young healthy individuals.<br /><br />It was named Spanish flu due to high mortality rates from the virus in Spain began to spread beyond camps, and into the general population. The Spanish flu virus was an avian H1N1 subtype of influenza A that may have crossed the species barrier from birds to humans without an intermediary host such as swine.<br /><b>Spanish flu </b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kfNFhFpZKWc/Wl9usTf0W9I/AAAAAAAAQcc/WqaOtHIWZYEgD3naYu-0vs5hqYDHheWYACLcBGAs/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="728" height="174" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kfNFhFpZKWc/Wl9usTf0W9I/AAAAAAAAQcc/WqaOtHIWZYEgD3naYu-0vs5hqYDHheWYACLcBGAs/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37709649.post-24244113001179498532017-12-20T06:39:00.000-08:002017-12-20T06:39:15.065-08:00Multi-organ failure due to bird fluPeople who have been infected with bird flu have developed eye infections, bleeding from the nose and gums, vomiting, diarrhea, high fever, viral pneumonia, Acute Respiratory distress Syndrome and multi-organ failure, among other life-threatening complications.<br /><br />Multi-organ organ dysfunction syndrome is a clinical constellation of severe physiologic changes occurring sequentially or concomitantly in multiple organs.<br /><br />The major threat to survival is often not the primary illness but rather a process of progressive of vital, interdependent organ systems.<br /><br />The mortality of multi-organ failure is directly related to the number of organs that have failed. With one organ affected the prognosis is fairly good with approximately 70% survival.<br /><b>Multi-organ failure due to bird flu </b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eyckklu5dj0/Wjp12xl6VLI/AAAAAAAAQNI/njTOhDns2_YoTBLlmcpT5Ga-Tp9SbqIiwCLcBGAs/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="468" height="288" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eyckklu5dj0/Wjp12xl6VLI/AAAAAAAAQNI/njTOhDns2_YoTBLlmcpT5Ga-Tp9SbqIiwCLcBGAs/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37709649.post-15276757027556549962017-11-21T19:37:00.000-08:002017-11-21T19:37:30.159-08:00Respiratory distress due to bird flu The first case of H5N1 avian influenza infection in a human with complications of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and Reye’s syndrome was reported in 1999.<br /><br />ARDS is common in fatal human H5N1 influence cases. In ARDS lungs fill up with blood and fluid as the immune system goes into catastrophic overdrive. It is also called shock lung or adult respiratory distress syndrome results from increase permeability of the alveolocapillary membrane.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4zfT9GlXir8/WhTwzeGs5yI/AAAAAAAAP-I/QmZhi8eYE2gcJvpTp3E2tagaxtjPEs-xQCLcBGAs/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="260" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4zfT9GlXir8/WhTwzeGs5yI/AAAAAAAAP-I/QmZhi8eYE2gcJvpTp3E2tagaxtjPEs-xQCLcBGAs/s1600/1.jpg" /></a></div>Severe ARDS can cause intractable and fatal hypoxemia. ARDS occurs commonly in young, previously well individuals who have major insults as multiple trauma, sepsis and aspiration of gastric contents.<br /><b>Respiratory distress due to bird flu </b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37709649.post-58426606690508527112017-10-21T19:15:00.002-07:002017-10-21T19:15:46.748-07:00Sore throat Sore throats are one of the leading causes of visits to doctors with more than 1 million such visits a year. Viruses probably cause the majority of sore throats. A viral pharyngitis is frequently accompanied by the same organism infecting other regions of the respiratory tract, e.g. nose and trachea.<br /><br />Sore throat can occur with both a cold and the flu. Bacterial sore throat is somewhat differentiated from a viral sore throat in that a viral sore throat usually has a slower onset and the throat pain is less severe. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bf3bOuCYNT4/Wev_MWQM8ZI/AAAAAAAAPxM/9aP6bWGnP8AtfeStzN4jaIkvDAXawJDIwCLcBGAs/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="634" height="342" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bf3bOuCYNT4/Wev_MWQM8ZI/AAAAAAAAPxM/9aP6bWGnP8AtfeStzN4jaIkvDAXawJDIwCLcBGAs/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Influenza infection is spread via small airborne droplets expelled during taking, breathing and coughing.<br /><br />Severe complications arising from pandemic influenza or the highly pathogenic avian H5N1 viruses are often associated with rapid, massive inflammatory cell infiltration, acute respiratory distress, reactive hemophagocytosis and multiple organ involvement.<br /><b>Sore throat </b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37709649.post-52296153469976898012017-10-20T23:01:00.003-07:002017-10-20T23:01:57.801-07:00Different types of Influenza VirusInfluenza viruses are enveloped RNA viruses, segmented and single-stranded belonging to the family Orthomyxoviridae. <br /><br />The orthomyxoviruses differ from the paramyxoviruses primarily in that the former have a segmented RNA genome, whereas the RNA genome of the latter consist of a single piece. <br /><br />There are three influenza virus genera, or virus types, within this family, influenza A, B and C distinguishable on the basis of antigenic differences between their matrix and nucleoproteins. <br /><br />Influenza A, B and C viruses also differ with respect to host range, variability of the surface glycoprotein, genome organization and morphology. <br /><br />Influenza A viruses are primarily avian viruses but also infected a wide variety of animals, including pigs, horses and seals. <br /><br />These viruses also most commonly infect poultry as well as many types of wild birds. <br /><br />On the other hand, influenza B and C viruses are essentially human viruses. <br /><br />However, influenza C virus, is of little importance for human influenza infections, causing only a mild common cold like disease. <br /><br />Influenza C viruses are very rare but can infect humans, dogs and swine. <br /><br />Influenza virus causes worldwide epidemics of influenza; influenza B virus causes major outbreaks of influenza; and influenza C causes mild respiratory tract infections but does not cause outbreaks of influenza. <br /><br />Pandemics of influenza A have in the past had a tremendous impact on human health and have paralyzed the communities worldwide. <br /><br />Similar scenarios would have to be expected to occur in case of pandemic spread of a new influenza virus in the human population. <br /><i>Different types of Influenza Virus</i><br /> Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37709649.post-37977092789943766642017-09-30T23:47:00.001-07:002017-09-30T23:47:06.072-07:00Definition of fluThe flu is an infection of the airways, throat, and lungs caused by the influenza. Like all viruses, influenza viruses are microscopic parasites. That means they are completely dependent on living organisms called hosts. Viruses reproduce by infecting hosts such as animals, birds, insects, plants and human.<br /><br />The virus infects between 5 and 20 percent of the population in the United Sates every year. If the flu breaks out in school or neighborhood, one or two people out of every ten people will probably get sick. Adult with the flu miss approximately 70 million days of work.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_vraj1N6L7w/WdCPDanXHsI/AAAAAAAAPiU/FO29pMCdg1UTmn91qqT5nUUdIem_Q4AJgCLcBGAs/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="409" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_vraj1N6L7w/WdCPDanXHsI/AAAAAAAAPiU/FO29pMCdg1UTmn91qqT5nUUdIem_Q4AJgCLcBGAs/s320/1.jpg" width="317" /></a></div>People do not just miss school and work because they get the flu, more than 200,000 flu victims need to be hospitalized each year in United States alone. And each year, approximately 36,000 of them die from the effects of the flu. Around the world, influenza affects about three to five million people each year. Between a quarter-million and half a million of them die form flu complications.<br /><br />Despite so many flu victims, most people do not get the flu each year, there are several reason for this. Some people do not come into contact with flu virus. Others get protection with flu shots. Still others can fight off some flu infections thanks to their hard working immune systems, which defend the body form harmful invaders like flu virus.<br />Definition of fluUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37709649.post-21407136370327008162017-08-30T08:43:00.002-07:002017-08-30T08:43:44.162-07:00Characteristics of virusesViruses are obligate intracellular parasites of nucleic acid and protein. Their RNA or DNA genome is covered with a protein coat. They are among the smallest infectious agents known. They range in size from the tiny polio virus (2 nm diameter) to the large pox virus, which is 400 nm in diameter.<br /><br />Viruses are also looked upon as highly evolved mobile genetic elements that have cellular origin. Viruses exhibit typical morphological and physical characters including a great variety in size and shape, chemical composition, structure of the genome and mode of replication.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xYS1AdrdJuY/WabdFTq6jeI/AAAAAAAAPOU/C8l2DtJw7eMafXr_xV4SxdOM0TFYT1QMACLcBGAs/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="552" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xYS1AdrdJuY/WabdFTq6jeI/AAAAAAAAPOU/C8l2DtJw7eMafXr_xV4SxdOM0TFYT1QMACLcBGAs/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Viruses lack most of the enzymes necessary for the metabolism and synthesis of complex molecules and so can replicate only inside a living cell.<br /><br />The strandedness of genome of a virus is a characteristic feature. The viral genome may consist of one type of nucleic acid either DNA or RNA which may be single stranded or double stranded. Viruses make us of the ribosomes of their host cells; this defined as absolute parasitism.<br /><b>Characteristics of viruses </b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37709649.post-49090558594575629652017-08-30T08:05:00.000-07:002017-08-30T08:17:37.143-07:00 Concept of body immune systemThe immune system is always in the job, observing all types of cells and materials traveling though your body. Certain cells, chemicals called proteins, and organs in your immune system identify foreign invaders like flu viruses that can make you sick.<br /><br />Your immune system can tell the difference between substances that belong in the body and those that do not. When it detects a “nonself,” such as a flu virus or other harmful outsider, from a “self,” the immune system’s defenses kick in, they treat anything unfamiliar as a threat.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zS_Px2MZZhQ/WabUHraKo1I/AAAAAAAAPN8/TdvKCAnIXSswiOkYaIsnH0eneuZfq1JCgCLcBGAs/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1024" height="187" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zS_Px2MZZhQ/WabUHraKo1I/AAAAAAAAPN8/TdvKCAnIXSswiOkYaIsnH0eneuZfq1JCgCLcBGAs/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>These outside threats to our bodies are called pathogens, pathogens which can also be called microbes or germs, may be bacteria or viruses such as influenza. Sometimes the immune system succeeds in keeping out harmful invaders and sometimes it does not. <br /><br />When your immune system is not able to prevent an influenza virus from infecting you, you may come down with the flu. However, even when you do get the flu, you begin to feel better when your immune system is able to destroy the virus. And if you received a flu shot, your immune system will respond to a viral infection more quickly so you do not become sick at all or you are only sick for a short time.<br /> Concept of body immune systemUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37709649.post-17791516011589009972017-07-15T08:31:00.001-07:002017-07-15T08:31:17.302-07:00Etiology of bird fluAvian influenza, also known as avian flu, bird flu, or fowl plague, is an animal disease of viral etiology that ranges from a mild or even asymptomatic infection to an acute, rapidly fatal disease of chickens, turkeys, guinea fowls, and other domestic poultry, as well as wild birds, migratory waterfowl and other avian species.<br /><br />These viruses are routinely transmitted from this wild bird reservoir to poultry in many areas all over the world. The virus is spread by aerosolization of respiratory secretions, fecal material and by ingestion of infected waterfowl and poultry. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D_xh8lwZ4kg/WWo1Kzc7EkI/AAAAAAAAO9k/5-4lvP7bbAEYVVomhL4zGPKOhcAsM1OSgCLcBGAs/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="800" height="262" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D_xh8lwZ4kg/WWo1Kzc7EkI/AAAAAAAAO9k/5-4lvP7bbAEYVVomhL4zGPKOhcAsM1OSgCLcBGAs/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Human to human transmission involved with directly transmitted by droplet inhaled from an infected person’s sneezing or coughing or by indirect contact with contaminated objects, such as a drinking glass.<br /><br />All known influenza A subtypes exist in the aquatic bird reservoir; due to this fact, influenza is reckoned as not an eradicable disease. Symptoms of flu are the sudden onset of chills and a fever 38° to 40° C, headaches, muscle aches, a non productive cough, and rhinitis.<br /><b>Etiology of bird flu </b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37709649.post-54419809894967900072017-06-13T22:22:00.001-07:002017-06-13T22:22:33.527-07:00History of H5N1On May 5, 1997, H5N1 human avian influenza was firstly found in Hong Kong of China in a 3-year old child, who died from Reye syndrome and multiple organ failure 1 day after onset of the diseases. The diagnostic laboratory isolated an influenza A virus but could not identify its H subtype with any reagent available to them.<br /><br />In November, as second Hong Kong boy – this time two year old fell ill. Again the cause was the H5N1. The boy did not die. In mid November, however, a third case emerged when 37 year old man wad diagnosed a s having H5N1 related symptoms.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lr74-QvLBdc/WUDH4c6-1DI/AAAAAAAAOtQ/JC4tT8cef6w7qyVqqn0SaxoiU8oK49MJwCLcBGAs/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="400" height="256" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lr74-QvLBdc/WUDH4c6-1DI/AAAAAAAAOtQ/JC4tT8cef6w7qyVqqn0SaxoiU8oK49MJwCLcBGAs/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> On May 9, the US CDC and Rotterdam state influenza center of WHO laboratory isolated the H5N1 AIV strain from the bronchial secretions of this 3-year-old boy which was named “A/HongKong/157/97.”<br /><br />It caused considerable concern about a potential pandemic. Since then, several influenza A viruses of avian origin that cause human disease have been isolated.<br /><br />Scientists and public health authorities are watching H5N1 very closely. Since 2003, some 6 human cases have been reported in 15 countries.<br /><br />In September 2005, the UN warned that an outbreak of avian influenza could kill between 5 to 150 million people, suddenly all the world’s attention was focused on this. In 2013, GlaxoSmithKline announced the first FDA-approved vaccine for a strain of H5N1.<br /><b>History of H5N1 </b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com