Wall Street

Avian, or bird, flu threatens to develop into a global pandemic that will sweep the world - according to some experts.

Online Stock Market Trading Others claim that there's comparatively little risk, and that an epidemic, if it does happen, will probably not occur before next winter at the earliest, and may not be as widespread or as severe as was first thought.

: R101. R19.00 (16%) a love story set in London in the closing weeks of the First World War, as the flu pandemic sweeps the globe... a love story set in London in the closing weeks of the First World War, as the flu pandemic sweeps the globe. the flu pandemic of 1918 killed more people worldwide than did the First World War. The author is comedian Sid James' daughter.

Stock Investing Course If, like many others, you're confused and anxious about bird flu, here are some basic facts you need to know.

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 Game 1) There are several forms of bird flu, all potentially fatal to birds, but only one of which is dangerous to humans.

This is the first case of a flock of German farm poultry contracting bird flu, the wire service reports, although several cases of the virus were found in wild birds in Germany this year. Health officials remain alert to the possibility that the avian flu virus could mutate and cause it to be transmitted from human to human. Although the World Health Organization puts the number of human deaths from avian flu at 190, none of them is ascribed to contagion between humans, the AP reports.

Stock Investing Game 2) At the moment, bird flu's spread almost exclusively by contact with infected birds. At present it can't normally be passed from one human to another. (The only exceptions known are isolated cases where people have been nursing family members in extremely close proximity.)

Normally the avian bird flu viruses do not affect humans but since 1997 (when the first case of avian bird flu among humans appeared in Hong Kong), this kind of flu has infected and killed several humans in the South East Asian countries. While WHO does not recommend avoiding travels to these countries, it does advice staying away from live animal markets and poultry farms. This is because the droppings of infected birds generally carry large quantities of the virus.

Journal Prime Rate Street Wall 3) For the virus to mutate into a form which CAN be transferred between humans, it needs to be caught by someone who's already infected with a normal human type of flu - and, according to the World Health Organization, the resulting blending of the flu strains needs to be repeated seven times.

Influenza Treatments Influenza normally afflicts people in autumn and winter, which means the time of influenza affliction is just around the corner. Of late, the threat of the flu has doubled with the feared spread of avian bird flu. Both influenza and avian bird flu can be treated through various medications, all of which are prescription medicines.

Stock Market News That's quite possible, of course, but it can be made less likely by careful management of cases of ordinary flu.

Stock Investing Basics 4) If the virus does mutate (they often do), there are many other ways it can develop which don't necessarily involve human-to-human contagion. It could even mutate in a way which makes it relatively harmless, or even one which makes it impossible for humans to catch.

Stock Investing Software 5) Governments worldwide are taking steps to cull infected birds and inoculate the healthy ones, and looking at other ways to contain and overcome the problem, such as a temporary ban on imports of live birds from areas which have so far been affected by bird flu.

Stock Market Trading 6) Scientists worldwide are working flat-out to identify and mass-produce a vaccine, and to develop ways of minimising and treating the infection. Many governments are arranging to buy and stockpile massive quantities of the vaccine as soon as it becomes available.

Stock Investing For Dummy 7) Flu epidemics happen every winter, and all of them cause deaths.

Stock Market Crash 8) All flu viruses are potentially lethal, but almost all are survived by far more people every year than die of them.

Stock Investing Tip 9) The much-quoted 1918 outbreak caused so many deaths partly because the countries it affected were exhausted and underfed after 4 years of the most devastating war mankind had ever known, and many people simply didn't have the strength to fight infection.

Stock Market Chart That flu strain also came from birds, but many flu strains do, including several which have proved much milder.

Online Stock Investing 10) The avian flu virus is a particularly severe one, and medical science has yet to develop a totally effective antidote -- but it is survivable, and at present relatively hard to catch.

Stock Market Crash Of The real danger will come if it becomes able to spread easily between humans. So far, there have been far more deaths from SARS than bird flu.

Stock Investing For Beginner You can keep up-to-date with any changes in the situation by checking with your doctor or the World Health Organization... but in the meantime, be positive. One of the biggest boosts that you can give your immune system comes from a healthy lifestyle, a vigorous, energetic attitude and a keen determination to meet the challenge, and surmount it.

Finance Journal Personal That clear intention can help you mobilise all the resources of your mind and body to prevent, or if need be to recover from, infection. Go for it!

Stock Market Report

Finance Investing Stock Market Aislinn O'Connor is a motivational writer and personal development consultant, who specialises in encouraging the use of the inner (subconscious) mind to bring about lasting improvements to your life and what you can achieve - completetly naturally. You can download helpful tools and lots more information from her website at http://www.access-your-peak-performance-zone.com

[ Comment, Edit or Article Submission ]