Bird Flu
Diverts Attention
Poland's Bird Flu Economic Problem For Big Polish Farms Masks Danger
Warsaw, Poland - 19 December, 2007 The economic problems caused by bird flu devastating large farms in Poland are diverting the attention of the Polish people away from serious a flu virus that is killing people in the United States now. Journalists' attention to the death of chickens keeps politicians focused on birds and not people.
The virus in the United States can enter Poland at any time. And there has been little or no notice to the Polish public of the potential dangers.
The danger is there and it is significant.
A new, apparently more virulent form of a virus that usually causes nothing worse than a nasty cold is circulating around the United States. At least 1,035 Americans in four states have been infected so far this year by the virus, known as an adenovirus. Dozens have been hospitalized, many requiring intensive care, and at least 10 have died.
"This virus has the capability of causing severe respiratory illness in people of all ages, regardless of their medical condition," said John Su, a disease investigator for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention based in Texas, where the largest outbreak is tapering off at an Air Force base after 10 months.
"What people need to understand is that there is a virus out there that can make you very, very sick," Su said. "If you have a bad cold and your symptoms keep getting worse, go see your doctor. This is nothing to be necessarily alarmed about. But it is important to be aware that this bug is out there."
Virus Starts Like a Cold But Can Turn Into a Killer
The virus has apparently mutated from a previously known variant that was discovered in Holland in 1955.
"Infectious agents have the capacity to mutate and change form, and from time to time, either genuinely new agents appear or old agents appear in new guises," said William Schaffner, an infectious-disease expert at Vanderbilt University. "This appears to be another one of those emerging infections that has taken on genetic material or mutated so that it is now more virulent than it used to be."
The danger to the Polish people, and Europe, lies just one airline passenger away.
And it lies just one step away from unwashed hands.
It lies one step away from touching an exit door from a WC where only about 15% of the people wash their hands.
The bird flu has apparently not yet mutated. Considering that the adenovirus was discovered in 1955 and it has only mutated now to a very dangerous strain, bird flu mutation may not be nigh. But on the other hand, it may. Recent events in Pakistan have some wondering if it has mutated already. WHO probes Pakistan's first bird flu death
Polish poultry farmers may have some difficult times with their businesses. And the longer the bird flu is around without having any adverse health effects on people, the more people will pass it off as no danger. And they will not take those cautionary steps of washing ones hands or using a hand sanitizer.
Education of the children in schools about the necessity of washing hands frequently is something that the Polish Government should stress. Regardless of the bird or adenovirus flu. The children can reeducate their parents. See Importance of Washing Hands to Stop Germs From Spreading
If you are traveling, a mutated form of bird flu or adenovirus might be traveling with you. Carrying a hand sanitizer might be a good idea.
And having the Polish Government stress hand washing in its schools is an excellent idea for all of us. There is no need to scare the people, just tell them that a way to reduce the likelyhood of getting sick is to wash one's hands.
The bird flu problem, and the flu problem in general is as much a problem for the Minister of Health and Minister of Education as it is for the Ministers of Agriculture and Economy.
Hand washing is healthy.
After all, you never know what you are touching when you shake hands. Other than the obvious possible residue from a bathroom, you may be touching bird flu that you might pass on somehow to something that might affect the economy, if nothing else.
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