الجوكر
12-13-2007, 09:34 PM
معلومات عن انفلونزا الطيور بالأنجليزي كفانا الله شره
What is bird flu?
Bird flu - known technically as avian influenza - is a highly contagious viral disease affecting mostly chickens, ducks, turkeys and other birds, and was first identified more than 100 years ago.
It can be caused by any one of about 20 different kind of the influenza virus. The recent outbreaks in Asia, however, have been largely caused by a highly contagious and virulent strain, known as H5N1. (The name H5N1 refers to the specific nature of proteins found on the surface of the virus.)
Can bird flu be treated?
The bird flu virus responsible for the recent outbreaks in Asia has been found to be resistant to the two oldest and cheapest flu drugs available, namely rimantidine and amantidine. However, researchers with Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization claim that flu drugs Relenza (zanamivir) and Tami flu (oseltamivir) are effective treatments against the disease.
There is a worry, however, that antiviral drugs are expensive and in limited supply. Ira Longini at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, modeled Tami flu's potential impact and came to this conclusion, according to a news report published in Nature in February 2004.
In addition, a number of companies are trying to develop a vaccine against bird flu. Such vaccines present a particular challenge, as the flu viruses against which they are intended to provide protection (by stimulating the production of virus-fighting antibodies) mutate frequently. As a result, any vaccine against a flu virus needs to be modified as the virus itself evolves.
What is bird flu?
Bird flu - known technically as avian influenza - is a highly contagious viral disease affecting mostly chickens, ducks, turkeys and other birds, and was first identified more than 100 years ago.
It can be caused by any one of about 20 different kind of the influenza virus. The recent outbreaks in Asia, however, have been largely caused by a highly contagious and virulent strain, known as H5N1. (The name H5N1 refers to the specific nature of proteins found on the surface of the virus.)
Can bird flu be treated?
The bird flu virus responsible for the recent outbreaks in Asia has been found to be resistant to the two oldest and cheapest flu drugs available, namely rimantidine and amantidine. However, researchers with Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization claim that flu drugs Relenza (zanamivir) and Tami flu (oseltamivir) are effective treatments against the disease.
There is a worry, however, that antiviral drugs are expensive and in limited supply. Ira Longini at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, modeled Tami flu's potential impact and came to this conclusion, according to a news report published in Nature in February 2004.
In addition, a number of companies are trying to develop a vaccine against bird flu. Such vaccines present a particular challenge, as the flu viruses against which they are intended to provide protection (by stimulating the production of virus-fighting antibodies) mutate frequently. As a result, any vaccine against a flu virus needs to be modified as the virus itself evolves.