Is the bird flu going to come to the USA and when? I'm scared.?
543860
I imagine it could come in with imported birds. There are people who smuggle in the kinds of birds that are pets. Here is information on a treatment. They also recommend you get a pneumonia shot as a lot of the deaths are due to pneumonia\n\nLaboratory tests show Sambucol® neutralises Common and Avian Flu Virus H5N1 \nAdded: (Thu Jan 19 2006) \n\nNew research, carried out by Retroscreen Virology has indicated that \nSambucol®, a patented formula, may fight the virulent Avian Flu virus. Results have been presented yesterday, Wednesday, in a press conference held in the Royal Society of Medicine, London. Speakers included Prof. Hannoun, Emeritus Professor at the Pasteur Institute and Dr. Mumcuoglu, developer of Sambucol®. \n\nLaboratory trials held in a leading research institute, Retroscreen Virology \nLtd, associated with the University of London found Sambucol® to be at least \n99% effective against the Avian Flu virus H5N1. Sambucol® was effective at \nsignificantly neutralising the infectivity of the virus in cell cultures. These \nresults will also be presented during the International Conference on Bird Flu: \n“The First Pandemic of the 21st Century. A Central Role for Antivirals”, to be \nheld at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital on January 19th-20th 2006. \n\nDr. Madeleine Mumcuoglu, is looking into further investigations into the \nactivity of Sambucol® against Avian Flu on a wider scale. \n\nIn an earlier study (1995) Sambucol® was found to be effective against a wide range of influenza strains. Laboratory studies conducted at the Hebrew \nUniversity – Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem demonstrated the activity \nof Sambucol® against human, swine, and avian influenza strains. \nSambucol®'s efficacy was also demonstrated in two double blind, placebo \ncontrolled clinical studies. Sambucol® was shown to cut the duration and \nseverity of the common flu by up to half. \n\nENDS \n\nNotes to editors; \nSambucol® is based on an active substance isolated from the black elderberry. \nManufactured by Razei Bar Industries Israel, Sambucol® is available in 17 \ncountries and in the UK is sold in Tesco, leading chemists, independent health \nfood stores and wholesalers from £8.49. \n\nFor photography please visit the following site and enter the log in details: \nFTP address: ftp://pixelit.co.il \nuser name: ftp_razeibar \npassword: 63+84675 \n\n\nFor further press information please contact: Francesca Gaffey/Cheryl Davies, \nCommunique Public Relations, Waterside, No2 Canal Street, Manchester, M1 \n3HE. Tel: 0161 242 5120/0161 242 5108 Fax: 0161 228 7391 E-mail: \nfrancesca.gaffey@communiquepr.co.uk cheryl.davies@communiquepr.co.uk \n\nFor research information please visit: Retroscreen Virology Ltd. at: \nhttp://www.retroscreen.com/ \n\nFor product information please visit: \nRazei Bar Industries (1996) Ltd. At: www.sambucol.com
1120001
it can be every where specialy when  your country is hosting wild birds, but i wish this problem uprooted from all over the world soon.\n\nstay safe\nnn
146647
Where we are: Since 2004 some 170 humans have been infected with bird flu, with about 90 fatalities, mostly in Asia, according to the World Health Organization.\n\nBackground: With the flu spreading around the world, the virus has turned up in birds in Asia and Europe, and, most recently, Africa. So far, bird flu has only been passed from birds either to other birds or, in isolated cases, to humans. However, if the flu mutates into a strain that can pass from human to human, people will have no immunity and the flu will probably pass rapidly from person to person, creating a pandemic. Flu vaccines can only be made to protect against a particular virus, and, since the virus has yet to be passed from human to human, no vaccine can be developed.\n\nIn Asia, many people live with ducks and chickens in their homes and in their yards. Health and veterinary officials worldwide recently announced that a key way to stop the spread of the disease is to improve farming practices, segregating poultry from humans, and culling birds that have been infected with the deadly virus.\n\nWhat's next? When asked for predictions as to the seriousness of the pandemic, should one occur, experts have based their projections on a similar pandemic that occurred in 1918-1919. Up to a billion people fell ill, and nearly 100 million died worldwide. Translating to today's figures, they project that some 30-60 percent of the world's population could be infected by the virus, and over 300 million people worldwide could die. In the meantime, good hygiene remains the best prevention: keep hands well-washed, and avoid contact with people who have been infected with the virus.
301002
The reason we watch asian flus is b/c the farms there are set up w/ ponds where ducks rest and pigs drink. The duck/bird strains are more likely to mutate to the pig first than to a human- the catch is, a pig is actually very close to us as far as internal working go, and it is easier for a pig strain (origianlly from a bird) can then mutate to infect the farmers... and then spread to the general population. So the likelihood... good. Pray. Peace out.
378848
YES!!!! I am sooooo scared. I live about a mile from the ocean and I'm freaked out. My family and i went to fly kites at the beach over Easter and i was horrified cause the waves were so big (I've been scared ever since that huge tsunami) I had to be reassured the whole time.lol
1032268
It's the latest viral mad bird infection.  Good luck.
163029
At the moment there is nothing to worry about as you can only get the virus from direct contact with infected birds (not from people who have the disease) and they are still few and far between, but IF the virus mutates so you can catch it from other people then we are in truble
509996
No, it's all a load of ****. Bird flu affects birds, but there is no risk to humans, unless you're in a job with high degrees of exposure to the animals and their droppings. There's been 113 deaths world wide, but NONE of these cases were transmitted from person to person.
440993
I live in the USA and I think I have bird flu!!!!!\n\nI have a fever, chills, and an incredible urge to crap on someone's windshield.
503347
Yes i think there will be. As to how bad it will be - no-one really knows, but it is always best to prepare. To prepare, you should stay upto date with any flu shots, because it gives your body a dry run if you will. Also having a few extra tin goods wouldnt hurt, so you dont have to leave the house so often. But apart from that, there is not much you can do, but follow any extra instruction given to you by the authorities
478749
Im from Louisiana and im very nervous about it.Been putting up money for months saving for a evacuation fund.Things are still in shambles from last year, I dont know how we can handle anymore.Its very scary.
451577
Relax.  The media in the US is making people crazy about bird flu.  The rest of the world isn't concerned. Turn off the tv.
162919
I am very scared!!! We had an article in our local paper a few weeks back about all the what ifs. I was very shaken by it. All the talks of millions dying and mass graves. Who wouldn't be scared. I have a son with asthma and they said the ones to die would be the elderly and ones with weakened lungs. I hope it never makes it here. It it does I already said I will shut up my house and my family will not leave. I will wear a mask to get fodd or thingsthat need to get done but my kids will not be casually infected.
220354
As it stands right now, most people are safe from the bird flu. The other answers are right in that you have to handle infected birds to get the virus. Most of the time, we are safe from a virus that is carried by another species. Occasionally, however, a virus mutates in such a way that it is able to "jump species" and infect humans. When this happens, our immune system is little prepared to defend us from the unusual-type virus. The good news is that right now it can only pass from birds to humans. If it should mutate to the point that humans can pass it amongst themselves, then it will likely become pandemic. Therefore, the fears that people are having are based on "scientific possibility" and the government is responding to those fears; not creating the fear.
142970
No, I don't think so.  My understanding is you would have to be living in very close surroundings with poultry that have the virus, or in close contact with live birds.\n\nHowever, I guess we'll be discovering new stuff about bird flu for years to come.
309598
I think they would have to. That pic is probably the CDC not taking any chances, but if someone showed up with it, they couldn't keep doctors and hospitals quiet. I hate to say it, but the US has enough on its plate now not having to deal with Bird Flu.
409462
There is an opportunity of the virus spreading by fowl migrating from Siberia's Tyumen region to Alaska and mixing there with birds flying to Canada and to other parts of the United States.\nBird flu mutation is possible in the countries where the number of different viruses is high. This group includes the United States.\nThe virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu could reach the Americas in six to 12 months or even sooner as infected wild birds migrate toward the Arctic and Alaska, the U.N. bird flu chief said.