How is the bird flu (H5N1 virus) different from other flu strains?

Question

Please answer properly. I didn't ask this question for people to joke around with. I am talking serious here...

Answer 1

All Influenza viruses have two proteins on their surface called Nuraminadase and Haemaglutinin. These two proteins varry quite a lot, and so these are used as the principle method of labelling a strain type. The current strain of Avian Influenza A that is worrying people has type 5 haemaglutinin and type 1 nuraminadase, hence we call it H5N1.

The 1918 spanish flu was (i think, don't quote me) H1N7, and someone in holland died a couple of years ago of H5N7.

The reason people are making a fuss about it, is that over the last few years, the strain has become more pathogenic, and its mortality rates have been very high.

Answer 2

The common influenza, usually referred to as the flu, is the name attributed to a respiratory illness triggered by specific flu viruses. It can cause simply a mild discomfort or even severe illness, in extreme cases leading to death. Certain groups are more exposed to the virus: older people, young children and people already affected by other health conditions are more likely to contract the virus.

Flu viruses which can infect birds bear the name of avian influenza. Also, of the three types of flu (A, B and C) that exist, only the influenza A virus affects birds. This, in turn, comprises of subtypes and strains of the virus, which are either low pathogenic (their effects on the poultry is mild and the mortality is quite low) or highly pathogenic. The latter is known to be a form of bird flu which can cause severe illness and have a high rate of mortality among the fowls. Both low and highly pathogenic viruses of the bird flu type have been known to affect humans in recent years and their effect has ranged from mild to severe and irreversible effects on the human body, eventually causing death. Such is the case with the H5N1, H7N3 and H7N7 viruses. Direct contact of the human victims with infected birds or consumption of such untreated meat is proven to be the main cause of bird flu infections.

The name or symbolization of the avian flu viruses derives from combinations of the 3 basic types of influenza A viruses (H5, H7 and H9) with different types of neuraminidase surface proteins (e.g. N1, N3, N7, N9).
General influenza viruses are prevented through the use of vaccines. However these viruses are also very dynamic and in continuous evolution. Small, gradual changes in the structure of a virus are known as antigenic drift. As the virus produces new strains, these are not instantly recognized by antibodies that usually fight off the flu. Thus people can become infected with the virus more than once and proper prevention of this is vaccination every year.

Check out full info here: http://www.bird-flu-center.com

Answer 3

The bird flu virus is different to any other virus or flu strain because upon examination it can be seen to have different formation to other viruses under the microscope.
It attatches to other cells in the body and can ignore all white cell attempts to fight against it and kill it off.
Getting to it quickly and administering the current medication they have out there is the only way to combat it with some success.

Also, it has the ability to spread from animals to humans which is a new kind of avian flu. Also, the human recipient of the virus will have had extensive contact with infected hosts (the birds), they do not get it from airborne virus. Also, no humna to human transmission of the avian flu has been seen .

Answer 4

Mutation of fowl flu virus in Turkey stirs concerns by utilizing Daniel Williams and Alan Sipress ... approximately Avian Influenza (fowl Flu) and Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus. NWHC nationwide organic international ...

Answer 5

This is one flu that is being carefully used to scare. Once introduced it will serve two purposes a) a lot of people will make a lot of money, ie; did you know that Donald Rumsfeld was owner of Tamiflu and is still main stock holder in company and so far has made tens of millions of dollars off it, and it does not even work. Funny thing a lot of defence workers have crossed to pharmacuticials you might think they were looking for a delievery system. and b)Quarinteen. Have you noticed all the secret prisons all over the country all staffed and ready to go, also all those public schools that are bieng fenced in and not only can people not enter, students and teachers are locked in for their own safety. In reality these will also be used as Fema lock ups. Notice they do not talk of any type of care or pre emptive measures in between. No it is straight to worse case scenerio, go straight to quaranteen.
This is their 9/11 power grab own everything GRAND FINALE. Go read all those executive orders Bush has been so busy signing. In case of emergency Fema is in charge. Government (Fema) takes over all transportation (private too) hospitals, fire stations, police, ports, all sea vessels, all water including drinking water for rationing, with the rights to enter your home and confinscate any water they deem you may have over your share. You really should start paying attention to what the government is up to. Especially this one extra secretive, blatantly lies, getting desperate, greedier then satan...Mary.