[BCNnet] FYI: Info related to bird flu

[Randi Doeker - Chicago]

 (1)
<http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16968301%26method=full%26site
id=66633%26headline=handwash%2dkills%2dbird%2dflu%2dbug%2din%2d30%2dseconds-
name_page.html> "No Germs" is the name of soap available in the UK that
kills the bird flu virus in 30 seconds.  (I'm sure US vendors are rapidly
working to make their disinfectant soap a flu-killer too.)

 

(2) This is from one of the many web reports on bird flu research: 

Unlike influenza viruses that are passed easily between people, H5N1 has a
hard time attaching to cells in the nose, throat and upper airways. However,
it readily attaches to cells deep in the lungs.  This suggests that people
need close and heavy exposure to the H5N1 virus for it to get into the
lungs, where it can take hold. But once there, it causes extensive damage to
the machinery of respiration -- the cells and air spaces where oxygen is
exchanged for carbon dioxide. 

 

 

I bring this information to your attention because of the current TV movie
with end-of-the-world scenes -at least that is what the commercials
suggest-due to bird flu.  

 

Plus, there is a continuing stream of news detailing how unprepared the
government is for an epidemic - any epidemic but you would think it is only
related to birds.

 

It may be the places I hang out, but I've already heard calls for mass
killing of all birds.  [I swear, these people think that birds are a crop.
"If we kill all of this year's birds, the ones next year will be safe."]

 

I used to tell such people to stop playing with chickens.  Now I'll tell
them to at least wash their hands afterward.  

 

Randi Doeker

Chicago

 

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