Bird Flu Treatment

Over the last decade, bird flu has become a major medical concern, on a global scale, although its effects haven't yet been extremely destructive towards the human population. The risk of a pandemic outburst (one that is estimated to have a death toll of several million lives) is still out there, for which reason international health institutions and governments have been urged to find a treatment for the bird flu as quickly as possible. Some important advances have been made in this regard, however there are still a lot of unanswered questions and problems that are quite worrying.

The main reason of concern is the fact that the bird flu virus is constantly and quickly mutating into improved versions of itself, making it almost impossible to create an effective vaccine. The same scenario applies to bird flu treatment, as with the prevention vaccine: several drugs that were effective in treating the first versions of the virus are now completely ineffective. These are not worth going into detail, but we'll focus on the drugs that DO work and have proved to be effective with nearly all bird flu viruses, especially the most powerful one: H5N1.

Oseltamivir (branded as Tamiflu) and zanamivir (branded as Relenza) are two such drugs that offer a good chance of surviving the bird flu, if administered early on, within the first 2 days of the disease. Even after this relative deadline, chances are that the drugs will increase your chance of surviving the flu, but if the virus already entered its more advanced stages (such as triggering the acute respiratory syndrome and pneumonia) they might simply not be enough to get past the disease.

A problem with these drugs is that they are quite hard to mass produce, so in case of a bird flu pandemic, it's estimated that it will take approximately 10 years to cover 20% of the global population with them, by which time the disease would have disastrous effects. That's why zanamivir and oseltamivir are only considered temporary solutions to the bird flu problem until a more efficient way of dealing with the disease is found.

It should also be noted that the bird flu pneumonias are different than the usual ones, which can be treated with antibiotics. H5N1 pneumonias are highly resistant to antibiotics, but a continued treatment with such drugs is still recommended during the disease. The reason for this is that the pneumonias often trigger other infections to the lungs, which CAN be treated with antibiotics. But these infections are secondary and treatment should obviously focus on curing the main effects of the H5N1 virus.

To conclude, it's very important to understand that the flu's treatment depends heavily on the evolution of the different viruses contained by it. Even the above-mentioned drugs, that are effective with today's virus versions might prove ineffective in the future, as the viruses develop new resistances. Since the situation is relatively stable at the moment, in what regards the outburst of a bird flu pandemic, scientists will try to find a way to prevent the disease and stop it from spreading rather than getting ready to treat it in the case of a global epidemic.

Related Treatment Articles

  • Acne Scar Treatment

    Acne is a skin condition that afflicts millions of people every year.

  • Acne Alternative Treatments

    One can have acne for more than one reason. So, for the different types of acne, there are different treatments available. Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing which type of treatment will work best for any particular patient. Because of this, most patients have to try several different treatments and even try different combinations to see which one works the best. This is because acne is not the result of any one cause. There are several factors that contribute to the development of acne problems.

  • Acne Laser Treatment

    Acne is a skin condition that has quite a number of treatments, but there is no cure.

  • Acne Scar Removal Treatments

    Acne is one of the most prevalent skin conditions in the world today. When a person suffering from severe acne finally gets it under control, with no outbreaks, it can still be difficult to deal with because of the scarring that severe acne leaves behind.

  • Allergy Treatment

    Many people are afflicted with some type of allergy to all sorts of things, such as environmental allergens, odors, fumes, food, and cigarette smoke just to name a few. If symptoms become uncomfortable and happen on a routine basis, then allergy treatment and testing may be in order. With food allergies and small children, the process of elimination is the best way to determine which food is causing the allergic reaction. Allergy testing methods such as skin testing and blood testing are effective, but some people may respond better to one than the other. Food allergies for instance show up better on blood testing, but if you know you're allergic to a certain food, wouldn't you just not eat it?

  • Anti-Aging Treatment

    I will point out the obvious, but we are a culture obsessed with aging or rather, fixated on reversing the aging process, slowing it down, studying, finding, and using the latest and hopefully best anti-aging treatment available. We are in denial about it or we are honest about it, laying claim to tight skin and flushed innocence of years back, when life was less involved, less complicated, less demanding. We seek anti-aging treatment, justified in our need to erase the life-battle scars we might otherwise be proud to show off, were white teeth, shiny hair, and perky this or tight that not so sanctified.

  • Anxiety Treatment

    Many people are at a loss when it comes to deciding whether or not to seek anxiety treatments. Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between passing stress and a real disorder. There are a few things that you can try at home to relieve the symptoms of anxiety. There are a few signs that should point you into the direction of your doctor's office as well.

  • Cellulite Treatment

    At some point in our lives, we are going to have some cellulite that just won't go away no matter how much we exercise or slim down. There are various cellulite treatments available, some more effective than others, to treat those areas of imperfection for good. We all want to be younger, and cellulite treatments are one more weapon in the arsenal to use against the effects of aging. Until now, the only cellulite treatments available were limited to topical creams, which are only slightly effective alone, but when combined with other therapies can yield better results. Areas of the skin affected by cellulite are dehydrated and need extra moisture to increase blood flow to these areas. However, many cellulite treatment creams only work on the top layer of skin, so appearance improves, but the lumps, bumps, and dimples remain.

  • Leukemia Information

    Leukemia can be a deadly disease. If caught early enough, though, treatment is available. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with leukemia, getting information on treatment is vital. If not adequately treated, the chances of a successful recovery are poor. With good leukemia information, you stand a much better chance of getting through it successfully. Although there is no completely effective cure for leukemia, the latest information can still help treat it, especially if it is caught at an early stage before spreading too far. There are many decisions that you have to make in fighting leukemia, or any other kind of cancer, for that matter. Always consult a qualified cancer specialist to help you make an informed decision.

  • Natural Medicine

    Most people assume the word "medicine" means doctors, hospitals and medications. In fact, this is better described as "western medicine." Many depend on western medicine to stay healthy or to tend to an accidental injury. The word medicine really encompasses more than just western medicine. Many people rely on natural medicine to stay healthy and cure sicknesses.

  • Ovarian Cancer Treatments

    Not too long ago, ovarian cancer was a killer offering little hope to its sufferers. Over the past couple of decades, though, improvements have been made in treating ovarian cancer and the survival rate has been steadily improving. According to the Cancer Group Institute (www.cancergroup.com), ovarian cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer in women, and contributes to 24,500 new cases every year - 14,200 of these women die. Ovarian cancer is very insidious and will display few symptoms, if any at all, until the tumor has progressed to a lethal level. The cause of ovarian cancer is not completely understood, but is thought to be related to a number of contributing factors, including heredity. Ovarian cancer treatments are more successful today than in years past, largely due to more research and new treatment therapies. At one time, women who were diagnosed with ovarian cancer were beyond the point where they would benefit from treatment. Their only choice was to go through invasive and potentially dangerous surgery to remove the cancerous ovaries. Most of the time, though, it was too late and the ovarian cancer had already spread to other parts of the body.

Latest Treatment News

  • Obama: Bradley Manning Treatment Appropriate

    WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama says he's been assured by the Pentagon that the Army private suspected of giving classified information to the WikiLeaks website is being held in conditions that are "appropriate and meeting our basic ...

  • State Dept Spokesman Slams DoD for Treatment of WikiLeaks Prisoner ...

    While speaking to a group of around 20 people at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, State Department Spokesman PJ Crowley described the Defense Department's treatment of Pfc. Bradley Manning, the accused WikiLeaks source, as "ridiculous ...

  • P.J. Crowley: Bradley Manning Treatment 'Counterproductive And Stupid'

    Hillary Clinton's spokesman has slammed the Pentagon for its "ridiculous" treatment of Bradley Manning, the U.S. soldier who is currently detained on allegations of handing thousands of confidential State Department cables to WikiLeaks.

  • On Japan's Nuclear Reactor and the Treatment of Private Bradley ...

    TAPPER: Thanks, Mr. President. PRESIDENT OBAMA: Yeah. TAPPER: Experts say they can't recall a time when the U.S. ever had to rush assistance to a nuclear power plant in another country before. What can you tell us about how serious.

  • State Department spokesman calls treatment of Bradley Manning ...

    State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley told an audience at MIT on Thursday that he thought the Defense Department's treatment of alleged WikiLeaks source Private Bradley Manning was "ridiculous and counterproductive and stupid." ...