Day Ten of the Avian Influenza Epidemic

The most recent numbers report about 100 total deaths from the avian influenza outbreak in Ely, Minnesota. A steady increase in citizens showing symptoms of the virus has caused more fear for the future as well. Specialists are predicting a possible pandemic, since the virus has mutated to be able to transfer from human to human. With this new ability, the speed of expansion could increase dramatically while the speed of vaccinations wouldn’t be able to keep up and will not be an effective alternative.
For treatment of the avian flu, specialists claim that the prescription medicines that are currently available for other human influenza viruses are capable of treating the avian flu. The viruses can become immune to these medicines though, so they may not always work. Sources say that oseltamivir and zanamivir would probably work to treat the virus, though more tests are necessary. Many doctors are also recommending ways to escape contracting the disease, including thoroughly cooking poultry as well as avoiding poultry farms, poultry processing plants, as well as close contact with infected birds. Doctors also promote staying away from large bodies of water, as they are able to carry the virus.
The vaccine for the avian influenza has begun distribution around Ely and surrounding counties. A vaccine is used to promote immunity to a specific disease. A vaccine is usually made up of an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism and is often made of weakened or killed forms of the microbe. This vaccine is made from an H5N1 virus that was isolated in Southeast Asia in 2004. Because of the mutation that allows human to human spreading, the vaccine needed to be altered as well to work on this strain. Epidemiologists hope that the vaccine can be put through quick tests to be able to be distributed to the public in the area.