Will the human seasonal influenza virus vaccine protect me against bird flu?
New Mexico Avian InfuenzaThe Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved the first U.S. H5N1 influenza vaccine for use in humans, though it is not available to the general public at this time. The federal Health and Human Services Department has purchased 13 million doses of the vaccine, enough to cover 6.5 million people.
Related QuestionsWhy won't the annual flu vaccine protect people against pandemic influenza?
Frequently Asked Questions About Pandemic InfluenzaInfluenza vaccines are designed to protect against a specific virus, so a pandemic vaccine cannot be produced until a new pandemic influenza virus emerges and is identified. Even after a pandemic influenza virus has been identified, it could take at least 6 months to develop, test and produce vaccine.
Related QuestionsIs there any role for influenza vaccine in control of bird flu?
web_block_rightThere is no specific vaccine to prevent bird flu although influenza vaccine for the country where you live in is available. Influenza vaccine is recommended for people at risk. This will help in prevention of reassortment and mixing up of the genetic material between influenza (flu) viruses and reduce the risk of human to human transmission. It is also likely to prevent the occurrence of severe forms of the disease.
Related QuestionsWhat is the difference between seasonal flu, bird flu and pandemic influenza?
Avian Flu Q/ASeasonal (or common) flu is a respiratory illness that can be transmitted person to person. Most people have some immunity, and a vaccine is available. Avian (or bird) flu is caused by influenza viruses that occur naturally among wild birds. The H5N1 variant is deadly to domestic fowl and can be transmitted from birds to humans. At this time the H5N1 virus cannot easily be transmitted from person to person. There is no human immunity to this virus and no vaccine is available.
Related QuestionsIs there any role for human influenza vaccine in control of bird flu in human?
Newindpress - Avian Flumentioned already, there is no specific vaccine to prevent bird flu although influenza vaccine for the country where you live in is available. lnfluenza vaccine is recommended for people at risk. While it may not prevent H5N1, it will help to prevent reassortment and mixing up of the genetic material between influenza (flu) viruses and reduce the risk of human to human transmission. It may also prevent the occurrence of severe forms of the disease.
Related QuestionsWill normal seasonal influenza vaccine protect me against avian influenza?
EISS - FAQ VaccinationThe normal seasonal influenza vaccine provides protection against currently circulating strains of human influenza. It does not provide protection against avian influenza A(H5N1). In the event of an influenza pandemic, a new vaccine would need to be produced.
Related QuestionsWhat is avian influenza or "bird flu"?
FAQ's - AVIAN INFLUENZA (BIRD FLU) AND AVIAN INFLUENZA A H5N...Avian influenza, commonly called bird flu, is an infectious disease of birds caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. All birds appear to be susceptible, though some species are more resistant to infection than others.
Related QuestionsWhat is the bird flu (avian influenza)?
Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) - The Ohio State UniversityThe bird flu (also referred to as avian flu) refers to strains of the influenza virus that infect birds. Avian flu occurs worldwide and was first identified over 100 years ago. Normally avian flu viruses don't infect species other than birds and pigs. In 1997, however, the first documented human case of avian flu occurred in Hong Kong.
Related QuestionsAvian Bird Flu FAQ - Frequently Asked QuestionsAvian Influenza is a virus that normally only infects birds, most notably ducks and chickens. There are numerous strains of the virus in which an infected bird may show few symptoms to others where the virus will rapidly overwhelm a birds immune system and prove fatal in the majority of cases due to acute respiratory failure. Once a single bird has become infected with a highly pathogenic strain of the influenza virus it can quickly spread to a whole flock with typically dire consequences.Related Questions
What is the link between the human influenza virus and the avian flu?
Pandemic Qu?becThe avian influenza virus is different from the human influenza virus; it normally attacks only birds, rarely humans. The World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasized that the current avian and human influenza viruses impose the need for increased vigilance because of the possibility of genetic material being exchanged between the viruses.
Related QuestionsHow well does influenza vaccine protect against the flu?
Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care - Get The Flu ...When there is a good match between the influenza strains in the vaccine and the influenza strains circulating in the community, the vaccine can prevent influenza illness in about 70% to 90% of healthy children and adults. Studies have shown that influenza immunization decreases the incidence of pneumonia, hospital admission and death in the elderly. Physician visits, hospitalization and death in high-risk persons less than 65 years of age are also reduced.
Related QuestionsIS THERE A VACCINE FOR BIRD FLU?
Avian Flu Awareness: Case Western Reserve UniversityThere is no commercial vaccine currently available, but clinical trials for a vaccine against the H5N1 virus are underway.
Related QuestionsWhat is avian influenza (avian flu/bird flu)?
Bird Flu: Frequently Asked QuestionsAvian influenza, or avian flu, is a common, naturally occurring virus in birds that has many forms or subtypes. Scientists believe all birds are susceptible to infection by some form of avian flu. Some birds, like waterfowl, can be infected with the virus but develop no signs of illness. In addition, the potency (virulence) varies greatly among the various subtypes of the avian flu virus.
Related QuestionsWhat is the cause of bird flu and what can we do to protect ourselves?
Frequently Asked QuestionsWe don't really have any answers although my guess is overcrowding in industrial bird facilities (yes, they have these in Asia also). The best protection is our diet, especially fermented foods like sauerkraut, and cod liver oil. Stephen Byrnes had been under enormous stress for at least three years, including being hounded by the Hawaiian dept of health and being cheated out of a lot of money. Also, Stephen was a very excitable person.
Related QuestionsWhat can I do to protect myself from bird flu?
Bird Flu -- Frequently Asked Questions - ADHSTravelers to affected countries are advised to avoid poultry farms and live bird markets during their visit. In addition, wild waterfowl or waterfowl showing signs of disease should be avoided in these countries. Although birds in Arizona are unlikely to be infected with bird flu, it is always a good idea to avoid contact with birds showing signs of disease. People who raise waterfowl or poultry should immediately report any suspicious disease in their birds to their veterinarian.
Related QuestionsIs there a vaccine against avian influenza (bird flu)?
Traveler's Health & Immunization Center, S.C. - Your Passpor...A vaccine against avian influenza is under development but there is none currently available in the United States.
Related QuestionsCan a vaccine be made to protect against pandemic flu?
NAVVaccines against bird flu are already being made and tested. Experts are also testing new ways of making vaccine quickly. If pandemic flu occurs, we’ll need a vaccine for the specific virus causing the pandemic. Flu viruses change constantly so there’s little time to prepare a vaccine in advance. This new virus would be different from the current bird flu virus. So although it's possible we may have a bird flu vaccine, it's also possible it may not work on the pandemic flu virus.
Related QuestionsWhat is seasonal human influenza?
Pandemic Qu?becMany different strains of the influenza virus are found around the world. The viruses that cause annual seasonal epidemics of human influenza undergo minor mutations, which is why an epidemic can take place every year. In the Northern Hemisphere, influenza affects between 5 and 20 percent of the population between autumn and the end of spring, peaking most often in January and February. Prior infection by similar strains can cause some degree of immunity against a new strain.
Related QuestionsIs H5N1 bird flu virus the only avian influenza of concern?
Pandemic Flu Frequently Asked Questions - Vermont Department...Right now, the H5N1 virus is the greatest threat for pandemic. However, other strains of bird flu have also infected people in recent years and have the potential to cause to a pandemic.
Related QuestionsAre avian (bird) flu and pandemic influenza the same?
Santa Barbara County - Pandemic Flu ResponseNO! There is a big difference between avian influenza and pandemic influenza. Avian influenza infects mainly birds and poultry. It can also infect people or animals who have very close contact with sick birds or poultry. But bird flu is not easily spread from person to person, so it cannot cause a pandemic. A pandemic influenza could only happen if the virus changes so that it is passed easily from one person to another person. This kind of change has not happened with the avian H5N1 flu virus.
Related QuestionsCan influenza vaccine prevent avian flu?
Influenza vaccine cannot prevent avian influenza as the vaccine was meant for human influenza. However, the vaccine can help reduce the chance of complications and hospitalization from human influenza; hence it is recommended for the elderly and patients with chronic illnesses. Influenza vaccine can also reduce the chance of genetic re-assortment and subsequent emergence of influenza strain with pandemic potential.
Related QuestionsIf a human catches bird flu, what are their chances of survival?
APFluWatch Answers Pandemic Flu and Avian Flu QuestionsWHO (World Health Organization) keeps track of bird flu cases worldwide. To date, 228 have contracted the disease, from which 130 have died. Mortality rate is over 50%.
Related QuestionsHow are bird flu viruses different from human flu viruses?
Avian Flu Frequently Asked QuestionsThere are many different subtypes of type A influenza viruses. These subtypes differ because of certain proteins on the surface of the influenza A virus (hemagglutinin [HA] and neuraminidase [NA] proteins). There are 16 different HA subtypes and 9 different NA subtypes of flu A viruses. Many different combinations of HA and NA proteins are possible. Each combination is a different subtype. All known subtypes of flu A viruses can be found in birds.
Related QuestionsAvian Flu Awareness: Case Western Reserve UniversityThere are many subtypes of type A influenza – some are found primarily in birds and are not thought to infect humans. Other subtypes are found primarily in humans. The influenza A viruses are constantly changing, and they may adapt over time to infect and spread among humans.Related Questions
Why won't the annual influenza vaccine protect people against pandemic influenza?
Pandemic Influenza Frequently Asked QuestionsInfluenza vaccines are designed to protect against specific viruses that have already been identified, so a pandemic vaccine cannot be produced until a new influenza virus emerges and starts to cause a significant number of human illnesses. A virus that could cause a pandemic would be very different from the seasonal flu viruses for which there is already vaccine.
Related QuestionsWhat is Being Done to Prevent the Global Spread of the Bird Flu Virus?
Avian Bird Flu FAQ - Frequently Asked QuestionsTo help prevent its spread, many Governments and health officials are working hard to bring about a greater civilian awareness of the dangers of avian flu and the importance of swift precautionary action when new cases are identified or infections suspected in both birds and/or humans.
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