Health And Pharmacy Blog

While most people were celebrating the arrival of another New Year on 1^st January, 2008 in the hope that the New Year would bring joy, peace and prosperity – some poor families in India were praying to God to save their livelihood. The dreaded AVIAN FLU has attacked their poultry stocks!

It has been almost 3 weeks since the first reported outbreak of the bird flu in the rural areas of west Bengal, India but government officials are still fighting to get the affected poultry stock culled. In the meantime, the virus has spread to many adjoining areas and now signs are that, the dreaded disease will hog the limelight for many more days.

It has been the 5^th time over the last two years that there have been confirmed reports of the avian flu being found in India. Fortunately, there has not yet been any confirmed report of the disease being transmitted to humans unlike the 2003 global outbreak that saw human casualty in Thailand, China, Vietnam and Indonesia. But scientists fear that, it is just a matter of time before the virus gain the strength to inject itself into the human body and triggers pandemic.

So what to do if such a situation arises? According to experts, people should follow some guidelines to avoid being infected by the virus especially if you are in the affected zone–

• Only fully cooked foods- Avian flu can survive at temperatures of up to 70 degree Celsius. So take only fully cooked rids/chicken/duck or egg preparations.
• Cross contamination – do not use same utensils for washing the raw meat/egg and that of other vegetables/items.
• Careful bird watching – Bird enthusiasts who flock water bodies to watch migratory bird should take the outmost caution. They should I no way come into contact with the water.
• Droppings – Avian flu spread through droppings and hence it is a must to boil the water before taking it in infected and nearby areas.
• Avoid direct contacts with strangers as they might carry the flu. Always wear protective mask or hand gloves if you have to come into direct contact with others.
• Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) and Relenza are the only two known anti-viral drugs that can fight the Avian Flu. Store it at your home if there is any chance of it reaching at your doorstep.