 |
Bird Flu Vaccine
Avian Flu Vaccine
Vaccine a Powerful Weapon
The most important tool for fighting the ever-changing flu virus
is immunization by a killed-virus vaccine licensed by FDA.
Currently no vaccine is available to protect humans
against the H5N1 virus that is being seen in Asia. However,
bird flu vaccine development efforts are under way. Research studies to test a
vaccine to protect humans against H5N1 virus began in April 2005. (Researchers
are also working on a vaccine against H9N2, another bird flu virus subtype.)
Prescription antiviral oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and the a lesser extent zanamivir
(Relenza) are the only medications that are effective against avian flu. The
drugs can prevent infection up to 80 percent and can treat patients who have had
symptoms for 2 days or less. However, flu viruses can become resistant to these
drugs, so these medications may not always work.
Flu is
a highly contagious disease, spreading mostly by direct
person-to-person contact. With the flu, coughing--even more than sneezing--is
the leading cause of flu transmission.
The flu virus can linger in the air for as long as three hours. In close
quarters, conditions are ripe for the spread of the virus.
The challenge for scientists trying to protect us from the disease is that
influenza viruses can change themselves, or mutate, to become
different viruses. Scientists have classified flu viruses as types A, B and C.
Type A is the most common and leads to the most serious epidemics. Type B can
cause epidemics, but usually produces a milder disease than type A. Type C
viruses have never been associated with a large epidemic. The bird flu or Avian
flu is a Type A virus, hence Avian influenza 'A' H5N1. In the
not-too-distant future, consumers may have alternatives
to the flu shot, including different delivery methods like nasal drops or a
spray. Major pharmaceutical companies, are making significant strides, also, toward
an even more protective vaccine.
In the rare cases when the vaccine is not advisable, two prescription drugs are
available for prevention of type A influenza: Symmetrel (amantadine), approved
by FDA in 1976, and Flumadine (rimantadine), approved by FDA in 1993. Either
drug also can be used to reduce symptoms and shorten the illness if administered
within 48 hours after symptoms appear. However, neither of these has documented
effectiveness treating Avian A H5N1 virus or bird flu virus.
Bird Flu Prevention | Bird Flu Precautions | Vaccines | Immune Supplements | Tamiflu- Relenza
|
|
