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HOW AVIAN IS THE AVIAN FLU?
Henry Wilde, M.D.,FACP
Professor of Medicine
Division of Research Affairs
Faculty of Medicine
Chulalongkorn University
Rama IV Road, Bangkok, Thailand 10330
Unlike the name suggests, the Avian Flu affects animals other than birds. While it’s the human cases that have made the headlines in recent years, there have also been cases of the H5N1 virus infecting pigs, cats, dogs, captive tigers and leopards, and wild martens and civets. Such infections indicate that the virus is more capable of spreading disease across species than earlier suspected.
Animals infected with H5N1 virus may be asymptomatic. Travelers should avoid close contact with domestic birds whenever possible and understand that bird flu is a potential worldwide zoonosis, meaning that it may be transferred to humans.
People who work with any wild animals, not just birds, need to take precautions against avian flu, especially if they are in area with a history of the disease. Studies show that there is an increased risk of transmission of the virus between birds and their human handlers. Sadly, it is a great economic problem for poor families in underdeveloped countries that depend on a small flock of chickens and ducks around their homes for protein. Cases in Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand have shown resistance to two of the most commonly used antiviral vaccines, further complicating matters.
While it may no longer be making national and international headlines, it’s still important to monitor the avian flu. There is a possibility that the virus can mutate, particularly in an infected mammal. A mutated virus may be more dangerous to humans than previous viruses have been. We must continually watch the developments relating to avian influenza, so that we can be properly prepared should it develop into a pandemic. |
