2008 Woodie Awards
'Bird flu' a possible threat
Christine Whitehead
Issue date: 10/19/06 Section: news
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An epidemic is an outbreak that affects many individuals at one time. A pandemic is a worldwide epidemic. Each year in the United States influenza viruses affect numerous people. The type of influenza strain that causes a pandemic is different from those that cause an epidemic. No one is immune to pandemic viruses. Typically, more people become ill and die during pandemics than yearly epidemics. These pandemics occur approximately three times every century. There have been five pandemics in the past 120 years which have killed millions of people. The most devastating was the pandemic of 1918 in which a Spanish flu virus killed between 20 and 50 million people.
The avian flu or "bird flu" is a strain of influenza responsible for killing large amounts of poultry in Southeast Asia. This strain could indicate the beginning of the next influenza pandemic. There are claims that 50 to 100 million people may die as a result. As of 1997, the bird flu had never killed anyone before. However, this strain of influenza was detected in Southeast Asia in 1997 and was responsible for killing millions of birds. No one is immune to this virus which is the reason the threat of an influenza pandemic is so severe.
The likelihood of the bird flu causing the next influenza pandemic is still somewhat unknown. The features of this strain of influenza are both concerning and comforting. Millions of birds in Southeast Asia have been infected due to this virus. It is also now evident that birds outside of Southeast Asia are also being infected with the bird flu. The concern is that the bird flu is capable of spreading to people. Since 1997 there have been 200 people infected with this virus and approximately 50 percent of those infected have died. On the reassuring end, it is uncommon for humans to contract this bird flu. Only 200 people have been infected with the bird flu while millions of birds have been infected. There appears to be no increase in the number of people infected yearly since 1997. A pandemic will only occur if the infected individuals become highly contagious to other people, which hasn't happened yet and may never happen.
The avian flu or "bird flu" is a strain of influenza responsible for killing large amounts of poultry in Southeast Asia. This strain could indicate the beginning of the next influenza pandemic. There are claims that 50 to 100 million people may die as a result. As of 1997, the bird flu had never killed anyone before. However, this strain of influenza was detected in Southeast Asia in 1997 and was responsible for killing millions of birds. No one is immune to this virus which is the reason the threat of an influenza pandemic is so severe.
The likelihood of the bird flu causing the next influenza pandemic is still somewhat unknown. The features of this strain of influenza are both concerning and comforting. Millions of birds in Southeast Asia have been infected due to this virus. It is also now evident that birds outside of Southeast Asia are also being infected with the bird flu. The concern is that the bird flu is capable of spreading to people. Since 1997 there have been 200 people infected with this virus and approximately 50 percent of those infected have died. On the reassuring end, it is uncommon for humans to contract this bird flu. Only 200 people have been infected with the bird flu while millions of birds have been infected. There appears to be no increase in the number of people infected yearly since 1997. A pandemic will only occur if the infected individuals become highly contagious to other people, which hasn't happened yet and may never happen.