Most global health authorities are in agreement
that a new influenza pandemic is extremely
likely in the next few years, very possibly
beginning this flu season.
The strain of the flu causing the concern is the avian H5N1 strain. It has been
closely watched by world health authorities for 8 years, since the Hong Kong
outbreak of 1997. Each year the H5N1 strain is active brings us closer to a
potential pandemic causing mutation.
Avian influenza or “bird flu” usually affects only birds, with extremely rare
cases reported in humans and other animals. According to the World Health
Organization (WHO), the H5N1 influenza strain has pandemic potential, since
it might ultimately mutate into a strain that is contagious among humans.
Once this mutation occurs, it will no longer be a bird virus--it will be a human
influenza virus. This change in the actual virus is known as an "antigenic
shift". This shift is actually caused by new combinations of the HA and/or NA
proteins on the surface of the virus. The mutation renders our immune
systems virtually useless against the virus and triggers a pandemic.
Fact –
The flu pandemic of 1918 - 1919 killed almost
40 million people world wide and at least
500,000 in the United States alone - in the
space of only 6 months.
This happed in a time when there was no intercontinental jet travel and the
world population was only 1.8 billion. Because of the high incidence of
worldwide travel, a similar outbreak today would be much more devastating.
Using similar mortality figures, the death toll would be over 120 million
worldwide. Some estimates place the possible toll at over 300 million. Most
indications are that the H5N1 strain is actually more deadly than the Spanish
influenza strain that caused the 1918 pandemic. The mortality rate for the
H5N1 strain is currently running over 50% of cases reported. As of mid May
2006, there have been 207 reported cases with 115 fatalities. Modern
medicine has very few defences against such a pandemic.
Unlike other outbreaks, being young and healthy was no defense in the 1918
pandemic. The majority of flu deaths occurred to previously young, healthy
adults in their 20’s and 30’s. The strain that caused it was so virulent that
healthy adults would leave for work in the morning, feeling fine, and be dead
before they were off work. Many of the deaths with this strain of Influenza
show it has a similar propensity for attacking the young and healthy.
The deaths were much also more brutal than with previous pandemics.
Indeed, one physician recalls that the influenza patients "died struggling to
clear their airways of a blood-tinged froth that sometimes gushed from their
nose and mouth," (Starr, 1976)
Fact –
Most people have little or no immunity to a
pandemic virus. Infection, illness & mortality
rates increase dramatically. A majority of the
world’s population will require some form of
medical care.
(U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services)
Nations are unlikely to have the staff, facilities, equipment and hospital space
needed to cope with large numbers of people who suddenly fall ill. There will
be extremely inadequate supplies of vaccines and antiviral drugs, the only
medical defenses against a global flu pandemic.
Death rates are certain to be high, largely determined by four factors:
- the number of people who become infected
- the virulence of the virus
- the underlying characteristics and vulnerability of affected populations
- the effectiveness of preventive measures.
With the increase in modern intercontinental travel, this trend promises to be
even more pronounced. This type of recurrence takes a huge toll on already
weakened health care and social service infrastructures.
Fact -
You Need to Be Prepared to Save the Lives of
You and Your Family or You May Not Survive. Do
Not Panic - Prepare, and Prepare Now!
Please Do Not Delay - The H5N1 Bird Flu has
Spread to Europe, Africa, & the Middle East.
step up measures to stop the
possible avian flu pandemic.
May 9, 2006
Preparation Ideas
Bird Flu Forum
newsletter with up to
date news and tips on
surviving the bird flu
pandemic.
and will never sell, share
or otherwise distribute
your name, email or other
information.
Thank You
Spanish flu pandemic. They are wearing
gauze masks in an attempt to avoid
the deadly disease. Such masks are
essentially worthless because the
influenza virus is so small, at about 100
nM.
-19 flu pandemic.
the virus causing concern among
health authorities throughout the
world.
information about how to keep you
and yours from succumbing to the
deadly H5N1 avian flu virus.
You'll Discover:
- The proper mediactions to take and when to
take them - Readily available foods to eat that can help the
body fight off the H5N1 virus - How to boost the part of your immune system
that fights off the H5N1 bird flu virus - Vitamin supplementation plans that you'll need
to beat the bird flu pandemic
lessons you must learn before it's too late.
You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to
check out this book now! You can download a
copy any time, day or night here
NOTE: China's chief vet at
the Chinese Ministry of
Agriculture, Jia Youling, said
on March 20th, 2006 that
there had been 15 human
avian flu cases in China.
Four of them happened in
places where there were
fowl cases and 11 in places
where none had been
reported. That means,
according to Jia, there are
various channels of human
contagion. The unidentified
sources of infection has
become common concern of
the international community.
and what you can do to help prevent
the bird flu or lessen it's impact
when it arrives. Click Here
