Saturday, September 30, 2006 Bird flu alarming than HIV-Aids: Health official
"THIS Bird Flu or Avian Influenza (AI) is more alarming than the HIV/Aids," said Dr. Manny Dulay Jr., of the Department of Health of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm).
Dulay said the AI virus is more alarming and scary than HIV because the effect on a human being is very fast. It is also difficult to trace where the person got the virus.
Bird flu is a contagious and infectious disease in chickens, ducks and other birds caused by different subtypes of the Influenza A Virus. It ranges from mild infection to acute and fatal disease.
Reported modes of transmission for HIV/Aids he said is through sexual contact, blood products, injecting drug use, and needle prick injuries, while the AI virus transmission from human to human is not yet known and very difficult to do.
Dulay, a representative from the Office of the Health Secretary, said transmission to humans might happen through close contact with sick birds and poultry farms.
He said that it is not a question of why or if, but when because "of our geographical location -- we are close to countries with identified bird flu affected areas. In the Armm we have marsh lands and coastal areas that are open to migratory birds."
Dulay said the AI virus can be passed to domestic birds, which are far more susceptible. He said that once the virus is found in commercial, poultry, backyards or household flocks, immediate destruction is recommended of all the birds that might affect or might be infected and the farms and poultries should be quarantined.
The World Health Organization (WHO), as of September 14, 2006, shows the Cumulative Number of Confirmed Human Cases of AI A/(H5N1) as Indonesia has 65 cases with 49 deaths followed by Vietnam with 93 cases and 42 deaths.
Based on the study of WHO the current AI threat flashpoint is Southeast Asia where illegal trade in poultry is flourishing and veterinary surveillance is worse providing plenty of opportunities for the AI virus to spread undetected among flocks and leap to humans and subsequently unleash a murderous pandemic (Stage 4).
Dulay added that experts predict that this AI virus could kill and infect more than millions of people. He said that there is currently no effective vaccine available to protect humans against H5N1, although one is being developed, but he added that once a pandemic virus surfaces it would at least take almost three months to develop a vaccine for this purpose.
"However, some anti-viral drugs can help control or limit and reduce the spreading of the disease," Dulay said.
Office on Civil Defense-Armm Director Lita Enok said that AI incidence occurring in neighboring countries like Indonesia, Thailand, Camboadia and Vietnam have been indicative or early warning signs that the AI threat may also affect the Philippines.
Enok, also executive director of the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC), said during the recently conducted Contingency Planning Seminar-Workshop on AI for Maguindanao Province here that there is really a need for us in the Armm to undertake emergency preparedness and risk reduction measures to prevent AI in the region.
"We have to have the necessary preparations this early to mitigate or prevent the adverse effects of this growing threat of AI in the region especially that we are near the countries known to have high incidence on AI. We have to have a Contingency Plan (CP) for Maguindanao province and for the rest of the provinces," Enok said.
She said Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan stressed the need to strengthen emergency response and disaster management including calamity mitigation and preparedness in the region.
As of today, only three Asian countries are "Bird Flu Free" to include Singapore, Brunei and Philippines.
Dr. Norodin Kuit, Armm Regional Coordinator for Bird Flu said that bird flu is caused by influenza A virus. He added that the outbreak affecting some Asian countries have been caused by influenza A/HDN1 virus. This, he said, can also cause severe infection to humans.
Kuit said that transmission of bird flu in chickens and other birds is through direct contact with discharges from infected birds, especially feces and respiratory secretions, contaminated feeds, water, cages, equipment and clothing and broken contaminated eggs.
Bird flu is transmitted to human, Kuit said through inhalation or contamination with infected discharges or feces of sick chicken.
Fever, body weakness or muscle pain, cough, may have difficulty of breathing in severe cases and sore eyes are signs and symptoms of bird flu in human.
Kuit, Dulay and Enok all said that as of this time there is no evidence of transmission of the virus to humans from raw, chilled or frozen poultry foods and from human to human. They said that one does not get Bird Flu from thoroughly cooked chicken meat.
"Eating chicken is safe because experts still say that AI is not a food-borne virus. To be sure that Chicken are safe, meat should be cooked so as eggs should be thoroughly cooked," the three officials concluded.
They said that aside from cooking the chicken meat and eggs thoroughly, the public should do the following precautionary measures such as: wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after handling live and dressed chicken, do not sell live chickens and other birds in the market while there is threat of Bird Flu, do not let chickens roam freely. Keep them in cages. Do not place chicken, ducks and pigs together in one area, cage or pen, do not catch, get near or keep in captivity wild birds and report to the nearest local health centers, agricultural or veterinary office any case involving bird flu or AI. (N. Maulana)
(September 30, 2006 issue) Write letter to the editor. Click here. Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here.
