Our area has been hit with Avian flu. This means that our extensive poultry industry in the kibbutzim and moshavim have had to cull (wipe out) their chicks, hens and turkeys. Even household parakeets have been removed from their cages and put down.
There are pictures which I'm not going to show you, and personal stories like my son who worked with the chicks last Friday, but wore fully protective gear (mask, head coverings, thick white coats, 3 pairs of gloves, protective pants and boots.)
He's now taking a seven day course of special antibiotics in case of exposure to the virus.
Our school bus is washed down with alcohol before coming to the station to pick up the kids and then on the way out.
Strange days.
I've been a little silent lately absorbing all these bizarre events. Nothing's a normal day round here, but this is even stranger than usual.
In any case, I'm fine - we're all fine, just watching the vegetables grow.
Avian flu
-
Lightning Rod
- Posts: 5211
- Joined: August 15th, 2004, 6:57 pm
- Location: between my ears
- Contact:
-
judih
- Site Admin
- Posts: 13399
- Joined: August 17th, 2004, 7:38 am
- Location: kibbutz nir oz, israel
- Contact:
yes, one day the usual number of chicks died in the chicken houses and the next day, there were a huge 1000 dead. That's the sign of flu. The chicks turn slightly purple.
The virus could have been brought from Egypt simply by tourists walking through bird shit and bringing their shoes with them when they came home.
It's an insidious thing.
People? Around here there were suspicions but no one's fallen ill. Humans can't get avian flu - but the virus can morph into a human killer. Let's hope we'll slide by this one.
We're all still fine.
The virus could have been brought from Egypt simply by tourists walking through bird shit and bringing their shoes with them when they came home.
It's an insidious thing.
People? Around here there were suspicions but no one's fallen ill. Humans can't get avian flu - but the virus can morph into a human killer. Let's hope we'll slide by this one.
We're all still fine.
-
stilltrucking
- Posts: 20614
- Joined: October 24th, 2004, 12:29 pm
- Location: Oz or somepLace like Kansas
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
The key first stage of infection is for the flu virus to attach itself to the cells in which it will breed.
It does this by using spike-like molecules called Hemagglutinins (HA) that bind to particular receptors on the surface of cells in the body.
Sir John told BBC News Online: "This research should help improve surveillance.
"If we find that the structure of a bird virus resembles that of the structure of the 1918 virus that we have determined, then we will know that it potentially poses a threat to man, and it will have to be kept under more active surveillance than usual.
"However, our research will not have an immediate impact on the situation currently unfolding in the Far East with the chicken flu known as H5, since, from our previous work, we know that the 1918 and the H5 Hemagglutinins are quite different."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3455873.stm
They say that the 1918 flu did jump from birds to people but it was an H1 virus and had a different structure then the H5 so it is less likely to make the jump from birds to people. At least I think that is what he is saying.
Speaking about cameras and watching on the poet's eye I found this bit while googling.
Wharton management professor Peter Cappelli recalls the strictures that were put in place in companies when he was visiting Singapore during the epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, in 2003. Each morning, some companies made employees report their body temperatures -- an indicator of whether they were infected with SARS -- before being allowed into their offices to work. Officials implemented a "buddy system" under which one employee was required to take the temperature of a co-worker to certify that the "buddy" was not lying about his or her thermometer reading.
"Infrared cameras were also in place to identify people with fevers," Cappelli says. "If you had a fever, you had to notify public-health officials. They would screen you for symptoms, then quarantine you at home if you were sick. If you were uncooperative, they would make you wear an ankle-bracelet. SARS was doing enough damage to the economy that there was a national sense they had to be on top of this -- and quickly."
http://www.upenn.edu/researchatpenn/art ... p?1024&bus
I am still worried about the Y2K bug myself.
The key first stage of infection is for the flu virus to attach itself to the cells in which it will breed.
It does this by using spike-like molecules called Hemagglutinins (HA) that bind to particular receptors on the surface of cells in the body.
Sir John told BBC News Online: "This research should help improve surveillance.
"If we find that the structure of a bird virus resembles that of the structure of the 1918 virus that we have determined, then we will know that it potentially poses a threat to man, and it will have to be kept under more active surveillance than usual.
"However, our research will not have an immediate impact on the situation currently unfolding in the Far East with the chicken flu known as H5, since, from our previous work, we know that the 1918 and the H5 Hemagglutinins are quite different."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3455873.stm
They say that the 1918 flu did jump from birds to people but it was an H1 virus and had a different structure then the H5 so it is less likely to make the jump from birds to people. At least I think that is what he is saying.
Speaking about cameras and watching on the poet's eye I found this bit while googling.
Wharton management professor Peter Cappelli recalls the strictures that were put in place in companies when he was visiting Singapore during the epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, in 2003. Each morning, some companies made employees report their body temperatures -- an indicator of whether they were infected with SARS -- before being allowed into their offices to work. Officials implemented a "buddy system" under which one employee was required to take the temperature of a co-worker to certify that the "buddy" was not lying about his or her thermometer reading.
"Infrared cameras were also in place to identify people with fevers," Cappelli says. "If you had a fever, you had to notify public-health officials. They would screen you for symptoms, then quarantine you at home if you were sick. If you were uncooperative, they would make you wear an ankle-bracelet. SARS was doing enough damage to the economy that there was a national sense they had to be on top of this -- and quickly."
http://www.upenn.edu/researchatpenn/art ... p?1024&bus
I am still worried about the Y2K bug myself.
-
panta rhei
- Posts: 1078
- Joined: September 3rd, 2004, 11:43 am
- Location: black forest, germany
- Contact:
i've read about your area being hit with the flu a few days ago, and been wondering in which ways the closeness of the infected places affected your chicken farms, judih... and then, yesterday, i also read the name of nir oz.
and now it all sounds like being part of some bizarre movie, while swallowing antibiotics as a precaution is so absolutely real.
damn! that stuff is such a robber baron in the system.
here, as of yet, "only" wild birds, cats and beech martens have been flu-ed.... but those animals have been found infected throughout the whole country.
in feruary, after the first discovery of infected swans on the island of rügen in the baltic sea, almost hysterical attempts had been made to keep the virus under control. but instead quarantining the whole island (the only attempt that would have made some sense at least), they called out code red in the region, brought bundeswehr soldiers there to disinfect all vehicles and shoes that left the island and to collect the dead birds, and began with the emergency slaughter of the local poultry populations.
it ddn't help much, though, as soon, swans and ducks and other birds were found infected all over the country.
no poultry, as of yet, but there's enough evidence that the virus doesn't care for national borders...
and now it all sounds like being part of some bizarre movie, while swallowing antibiotics as a precaution is so absolutely real.
damn! that stuff is such a robber baron in the system.
here, as of yet, "only" wild birds, cats and beech martens have been flu-ed.... but those animals have been found infected throughout the whole country.
in feruary, after the first discovery of infected swans on the island of rügen in the baltic sea, almost hysterical attempts had been made to keep the virus under control. but instead quarantining the whole island (the only attempt that would have made some sense at least), they called out code red in the region, brought bundeswehr soldiers there to disinfect all vehicles and shoes that left the island and to collect the dead birds, and began with the emergency slaughter of the local poultry populations.
it ddn't help much, though, as soon, swans and ducks and other birds were found infected all over the country.
no poultry, as of yet, but there's enough evidence that the virus doesn't care for national borders...
-
whimsicaldeb
- Posts: 882
- Joined: November 3rd, 2004, 4:53 pm
- Location: Northern California, USA
- Contact:
Here are some helpful facts:
1. What is avian (bird) flu?
Avian or bird flu is an infection caused by an influenza virus that occurs naturally in wild birds. The flu strain that worries health officials, H5N1, is spread easily among birds and can sicken and kill wild and domesticated birds such as chickens, ducks, turkeys and migratory birds. Less commonly, the virus can infect pigs and tigers.
The virus does not usually spread to humans but some have become infected after coming into contact with sick birds or surfaces contaminated with the feces and/or secretions of sick birds.
2. What is the H5N1 virus?
H5N1 is one particular strain of the bird flu that is highly contagious among birds. It is a type A influenza virus that is usually only found in birds but can cause death in humans.
3. Where did bird flu originate?
The first recorded case of H5N1 bird flu in humans occurred in Hong Kong in 1997, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. The current outbreak of the H5N1 virus in birds began in South Asia in mid 2003 and is considered the most severe on record, according to the World Health Organization. Eight nations (South Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, and China) reported outbreaks through February 2004. The virus has since been reported in Malaysia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Turkey, Romania and Croatia, as of October 2005. Investigations continue in other nations.
4. Can humans catch bird flu?
The current bird flu virus, H5N1, can spread from birds to humans. This particular strain of the bird flu virus causes serious problems and even death in humans. Those infected suffer from viral pneumonia and organ failure. More than half of those infected have died.
The main route of infection to humans is through direct contact with infected birds or surfaces. Most of the current cases of human infection were found in rural or semi-rural areas among people who keep flocks of domesticated foul. Most were exposed to the virus during the slaughter, defeathering, butchering or preparing of infected birds for cooking. There is no evidence that properly cooked birds or eggs can spread infection, according to the World Health Organization.
5. How does bird flu spread?
Bird flu is currently spread among birds via saliva, nasal excretions and feces and contaminated surfaces. People who have contracted the H5N1 virus from birds have come into contact with contaminated birds or surfaces.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/b ... asics.html
Can you tell us a little bit about the current avian influenza?
Avian influenza has existed in nature for a million years as an innocuous intestinal water- borne virus of wild ducks. It doesn’t hurt the ducks and the ducks don’t hurt the virus. Human influenza started just a few thousand years ago particularly with the domestication of poultry—wild ducks in China.
http://www.satyamag.com/feb06/greger.html
Avian Flu
Avian flu, or “bird flu,” is an infection caused by avian influenza (or “bird flu”) viruses. These flu viruses occur naturally among birds. Wild birds worldwide commonly carry the viruses in their intestines or respiratory tracts but usually do not get sick from them. However, bird flu can be contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds including chickens, ducks, and turkeys – very sick and kill them. The risk to humans of avian flu is generally low to because the viruses occur mainly among birds and do not easily infect humans. However, during an outbreak of avian flu among poultry (including domesticated chicken, ducks, turkeys) there is a possible risk to people who have contact with infected birds or surfaces that have been contaminated with excretions from infected birds that carry the virus.
http://deploymentlink.osd.mil/pdfs/avia ... ossary.pdf
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are medicines designed to kill bacteria and to treat and prevent bacterial diseases and infections. Antibiotics are not used to prevent or treat influenza (which is a virus, not a bacteria) but may be used to treat bacterial infections, such as pneumonia, that may occur as complications of influenza infection.
http://deploymentlink.osd.mil/pdfs/avia ... ossary.pdf
Evolution and the avian flu
November/December 2005 – excerpt:
The current outbreak involves a flu strain called H5N1, which we already know from occasional bird-to-human transmissions can be deadly to humans. H5 and N1 represent forms of viral proteins that our bodies use to recognize and attack the virus. Some flu strains, such as H1N1, are relatively common in humans; many people's immune systems can recognize and attack these strains. This reduces the number of human carriers and thus, the risk that this strain will cause a serious pandemic. Unfortunately, people's immune systems do not yet have any ability to recognize the H5N1 strain, leaving us extremely vulnerable to it. Luckily, H5N1 is not adapted to human hosts and does not have the genes that would allow it to be passed easily person to person. But evolution may change that.
(cutting)
The most worrisome possibility, however, is that an H5N1 virus could acquire genes for human-to-human transmission directly from a human flu strain. Unlike humans, many viruses can easily incorporate ready-made genes from other viruses into their genomes. This is a possibility anytime a host is infected with two different viral strains. A human infected with a typical, non-lethal human flu virus and H5N1 avian flu could serve as a mixing vessel for the two viruses, resulting in a flu strain with the deadly properties and unrecognized proteins of H5N1 but with human transmissibility genes.
http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrar ... 15_birdflu
In brief/recap:
A: Bird flu viruses have been around forever – and will continue to do so, and we have been exposed to most versions already.
B: H5N1 has two versions, a low version (only bird to bird passing) version, and a newer higher version coming out now.
C: A human has to have direct, non-protected contact with a sick H5N1 – A version sick bird WHILE also actively having the human strain flu virus themselves for the H5N1 virus to mutate to humans.
D: At high risk for death are those people who live [directly with their chickens (eat, sleep in the same rooms as their chickens)
E: Antibiotics do NOT kill a flu virus. Or a cold virus, or any type of virus. Antibiotics work on bacterial infections only.
Currently (as of today) 103 people have died from avian flu since 2003.
March 21, 2006
Azerbaijan Reports Five Human Deaths From Bird Flu
The World Health Organization confirmed seven human cases of the H5N1 strain of the bird flu in Azerbaijan. Five of the victims died, bringing the human death toll to 103 out of 184 recorded cases since late 2003.
Source: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/b ... index.html
8. Is there a treatment for bird flu in people?
Two drugs, commercially known as Tamiflu and Relenza, are known to reduce symptoms and severity of seasonal influenza or flu. If administered early they may work similarly with the H5N1 virus too, but clinical data is limited, according to the World Health Organization.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/b ... asics.html
––-
My comments:
As for the US – it’s not a matter of ‘if’ H5N1 it will come to all parts of the world, including the US – it’s when. However, H5N1 does not automatically mean level A H5N1.
Continued good basic health care – washing hands, eating right, careful food preparation and careful food purchases will go a long way in offering protection from having this virus mutate, as well as protection if it should.
~~~~
Judih … sorry to hear about the loss of livestock, but glad to hear to you & yours are holding up well.
1. What is avian (bird) flu?
Avian or bird flu is an infection caused by an influenza virus that occurs naturally in wild birds. The flu strain that worries health officials, H5N1, is spread easily among birds and can sicken and kill wild and domesticated birds such as chickens, ducks, turkeys and migratory birds. Less commonly, the virus can infect pigs and tigers.
The virus does not usually spread to humans but some have become infected after coming into contact with sick birds or surfaces contaminated with the feces and/or secretions of sick birds.
2. What is the H5N1 virus?
H5N1 is one particular strain of the bird flu that is highly contagious among birds. It is a type A influenza virus that is usually only found in birds but can cause death in humans.
3. Where did bird flu originate?
The first recorded case of H5N1 bird flu in humans occurred in Hong Kong in 1997, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. The current outbreak of the H5N1 virus in birds began in South Asia in mid 2003 and is considered the most severe on record, according to the World Health Organization. Eight nations (South Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, and China) reported outbreaks through February 2004. The virus has since been reported in Malaysia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Turkey, Romania and Croatia, as of October 2005. Investigations continue in other nations.
4. Can humans catch bird flu?
The current bird flu virus, H5N1, can spread from birds to humans. This particular strain of the bird flu virus causes serious problems and even death in humans. Those infected suffer from viral pneumonia and organ failure. More than half of those infected have died.
The main route of infection to humans is through direct contact with infected birds or surfaces. Most of the current cases of human infection were found in rural or semi-rural areas among people who keep flocks of domesticated foul. Most were exposed to the virus during the slaughter, defeathering, butchering or preparing of infected birds for cooking. There is no evidence that properly cooked birds or eggs can spread infection, according to the World Health Organization.
5. How does bird flu spread?
Bird flu is currently spread among birds via saliva, nasal excretions and feces and contaminated surfaces. People who have contracted the H5N1 virus from birds have come into contact with contaminated birds or surfaces.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/b ... asics.html
Can you tell us a little bit about the current avian influenza?
Avian influenza has existed in nature for a million years as an innocuous intestinal water- borne virus of wild ducks. It doesn’t hurt the ducks and the ducks don’t hurt the virus. Human influenza started just a few thousand years ago particularly with the domestication of poultry—wild ducks in China.
http://www.satyamag.com/feb06/greger.html
Avian Flu
Avian flu, or “bird flu,” is an infection caused by avian influenza (or “bird flu”) viruses. These flu viruses occur naturally among birds. Wild birds worldwide commonly carry the viruses in their intestines or respiratory tracts but usually do not get sick from them. However, bird flu can be contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds including chickens, ducks, and turkeys – very sick and kill them. The risk to humans of avian flu is generally low to because the viruses occur mainly among birds and do not easily infect humans. However, during an outbreak of avian flu among poultry (including domesticated chicken, ducks, turkeys) there is a possible risk to people who have contact with infected birds or surfaces that have been contaminated with excretions from infected birds that carry the virus.
http://deploymentlink.osd.mil/pdfs/avia ... ossary.pdf
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are medicines designed to kill bacteria and to treat and prevent bacterial diseases and infections. Antibiotics are not used to prevent or treat influenza (which is a virus, not a bacteria) but may be used to treat bacterial infections, such as pneumonia, that may occur as complications of influenza infection.
http://deploymentlink.osd.mil/pdfs/avia ... ossary.pdf
Evolution and the avian flu
November/December 2005 – excerpt:
The current outbreak involves a flu strain called H5N1, which we already know from occasional bird-to-human transmissions can be deadly to humans. H5 and N1 represent forms of viral proteins that our bodies use to recognize and attack the virus. Some flu strains, such as H1N1, are relatively common in humans; many people's immune systems can recognize and attack these strains. This reduces the number of human carriers and thus, the risk that this strain will cause a serious pandemic. Unfortunately, people's immune systems do not yet have any ability to recognize the H5N1 strain, leaving us extremely vulnerable to it. Luckily, H5N1 is not adapted to human hosts and does not have the genes that would allow it to be passed easily person to person. But evolution may change that.
(cutting)
The most worrisome possibility, however, is that an H5N1 virus could acquire genes for human-to-human transmission directly from a human flu strain. Unlike humans, many viruses can easily incorporate ready-made genes from other viruses into their genomes. This is a possibility anytime a host is infected with two different viral strains. A human infected with a typical, non-lethal human flu virus and H5N1 avian flu could serve as a mixing vessel for the two viruses, resulting in a flu strain with the deadly properties and unrecognized proteins of H5N1 but with human transmissibility genes.
http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrar ... 15_birdflu
In brief/recap:
A: Bird flu viruses have been around forever – and will continue to do so, and we have been exposed to most versions already.
B: H5N1 has two versions, a low version (only bird to bird passing) version, and a newer higher version coming out now.
C: A human has to have direct, non-protected contact with a sick H5N1 – A version sick bird WHILE also actively having the human strain flu virus themselves for the H5N1 virus to mutate to humans.
D: At high risk for death are those people who live [directly with their chickens (eat, sleep in the same rooms as their chickens)
E: Antibiotics do NOT kill a flu virus. Or a cold virus, or any type of virus. Antibiotics work on bacterial infections only.
Currently (as of today) 103 people have died from avian flu since 2003.
March 21, 2006
Azerbaijan Reports Five Human Deaths From Bird Flu
The World Health Organization confirmed seven human cases of the H5N1 strain of the bird flu in Azerbaijan. Five of the victims died, bringing the human death toll to 103 out of 184 recorded cases since late 2003.
Source: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/b ... index.html
8. Is there a treatment for bird flu in people?
Two drugs, commercially known as Tamiflu and Relenza, are known to reduce symptoms and severity of seasonal influenza or flu. If administered early they may work similarly with the H5N1 virus too, but clinical data is limited, according to the World Health Organization.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/b ... asics.html
––-
My comments:
As for the US – it’s not a matter of ‘if’ H5N1 it will come to all parts of the world, including the US – it’s when. However, H5N1 does not automatically mean level A H5N1.
Continued good basic health care – washing hands, eating right, careful food preparation and careful food purchases will go a long way in offering protection from having this virus mutate, as well as protection if it should.
~~~~
Judih … sorry to hear about the loss of livestock, but glad to hear to you & yours are holding up well.
-
judih
- Site Admin
- Posts: 13399
- Joined: August 17th, 2004, 7:38 am
- Location: kibbutz nir oz, israel
- Contact:
thanks for all that info, deb. And poor panta and the swans. Animals succumbing to the flu leaves us with such a helpless feeling.
Round here, it's protective clothing (masks, hats, coats, boots, gloves) for those stuck with the job of culling the birds and burying the bodies.
It's surreal, alright.
(my son's just finished his rough draft of his final high school paper on Miles Davis and his musical influence, so needless to say, i've had "All Blues" running through my mind as i walk by the scenes in the long houses that once housed chicks).
good night all - stay clean, and try to avoid playing with infected avian discharges - at least that's what we're doing!
and still t- i think if you hold out long enough, you'll be able to trade your Y2K bug for Y3K...hang on..
Round here, it's protective clothing (masks, hats, coats, boots, gloves) for those stuck with the job of culling the birds and burying the bodies.
It's surreal, alright.
(my son's just finished his rough draft of his final high school paper on Miles Davis and his musical influence, so needless to say, i've had "All Blues" running through my mind as i walk by the scenes in the long houses that once housed chicks).
good night all - stay clean, and try to avoid playing with infected avian discharges - at least that's what we're doing!
and still t- i think if you hold out long enough, you'll be able to trade your Y2K bug for Y3K...hang on..
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests