Wall Street

By Ron Corben

Online Stock Market Trading Two countries will control movement of birds between Thailand, Malaysia and share information.If you would like to receive late breaking news on health stocks covered by AXcess News then you need to subscribe. By joining, you can stay ahead of the pack and receive the latest news in your email in-box first.Print This Page

So far, bird flu has infected 231 people around the world, and killed 134. Human casualties remain largely confined to Asia and to people who have had close and prolonged contact with infected birds, such as poultry farm workers. Worries about bird flu have also led to the destruction of tens of millions of poultry, mostly in Asian nations, as officials struggle to contain the virus. ---- North Carolina Beaches Issue Jellyfish Alert

Stock Investing Course Sept 21, 2004 (AXcess News) Bangkok - Thailand and Malaysia will tighten controls over shipments of poultry across their border in a bid to halt the spread of bird flu. The agreement comes as groups opposed to animal trafficking warn the trade may also lead to the spread of diseases from animals to humans.

3. Is there a treatment for bird flu Professionals currently researching the Avian bird flu claim that rimantidine and amantidine, two cheap and popular flu drugs, have no power over the bird flu, but Relenza and Tamiflu, two other flu drugs, can indeed effectively treat the viral disease. 4. Is there a risk of a bird flu epidemic Experts in this area suggest that rapid and extensive culling and quarantining of potentially infected animals is the best way to prevent an epidemic. Another option is vaccination of birds against the bird flu virus.

Stock Market Game Senior agricultural officials from Malaysia and Thailand, meeting in Bangkok Tuesday, agreed to step up efforts to curb the movement of poultry across their border.

1. What is bird flu Avian influenza, or bird flu, is a contagious disease that affects chickens, ducks, turkeys, and other birds. Bird flu was first detected over 100 years ago and nowadays comes in a variety of about 20 strains. Most recently, outbreaks of the viral disease have been caused by the H5N1 strain, which is a particularly deadly strain of the virus. 2. Can I be infected with bird flu The H5N1 strain of the flu, also called the Asian bird flu because it recently was detected in Asia, has a small risk level for human beings because it cannot be transmitted from one human being to another. A human being can only be infected from direct contact with a sick animal. It is possible that this could change and that the strain could evolve into a virus that can be transferred from one human to another. But this is not the case now.

Stock Investing Game Malaysian officials have blamed smuggled Thai fighting cocks for an outbreak of avian flu in Kelantan state.Officials at the Malaysian Department of Veterinary Services say the problem lies in coordinating efforts to prevent the movement of birds over the border.

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Journal Prime Rate Street Wall Officials from the two countries agreed to set up an early warning system and to immediately share information on outbreaks.

Avian bird flu on the other hand is a form of flu that was originally believed to infect birds only, but turned up among humans in Hong Kong in 1997. Avian bird flu can affect humans, but only when they come in close contact with live infected birds and manage to inhale the virus. fever, malaise, sore throats and coughs.

Stock Market News While the H5N1 strain of bird flu has claimed up to 28 lives in Thailand and Vietnam in the past year, no human cases have been found in Malaysia. Humans generally appear to contract the virus from infected birds, but scientists around the world are afraid the H5N1 strain could soon change to become more contagious to humans, leading to a dangerous flu epidemic.AdvertisementSince the initial outbreak early this year, millions of poultry have been culled throughout Asia to halt the virus. Experts, however, say it could take years to contain the disease.

Stock Investing Basics The concerns come as conservation groups warn that uncontrolled trade in wildlife could spread dangerous diseases to humans.

Stock Investing Software Steven Galster, executive director of the wildlife protection group WildAid, says increased regional cooperation is necessary to halt the illegal trade. "Better safe than sorry," he noted. "Get a handle on the trade, take a look at what's potentially going to be transferred from animals to people first, and that's not being done. Right now the trade is out of control; the legal trade is huge; the illegal trade is getting bigger."

Stock Market Trading The H5N1 virus has been found in wild birds, and the SARS virus, which caused more than 800 deaths last year, is thought to be carried by wild animals, such as a weasel-like animal called the civet cat in China. The civet is eaten as a delicacy in southern China.Mr. Galster said countries needed to link various agencies, such as customs and agricultural ministries to share information across borders about wildlife trafficking.

Stock Investing For Dummy Source: Voice of America

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