|
Dar scientists say chance of Bird Flu spreading among humans is minimal
2005-11-24 09:01:01
By Guardian Reporter
As Arushans and the rest of East Africans brace for a possible bird flu pandemic, the University of Dar es Salaam Department of Zoology and Wildlife Conservation is not as pessimistic as scientists elsewhere across are world.
The department’s dons agree that there is a possibility of the bird flu being brought into the country by migratory birds, but chances of the disease spreading among humans are minimal.
A statement issued by the department last week said there was no direct proof that migrating birds from the Northern Hemisphere to East Africa could spread the disease among the human population in Tanzania.
Public health officials and organizations around the world are however on high alert because of increasing concerns about the prospect of an influenza pandemic, which many experts believe to be inevitable.
But the statement issued in Dar es Salaam says although it had been suggested that migrants might introduce the bird flu viruses in Tanzania, yet there is only circumstantial evidence that wild birds are carrying the virulent strain of H5N1 across Eurasia.
Despite the ’massive’ exposure of people in Asia to bird flu, there were still very few human infections resulting from the disease’s virus HPAI (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza), according to the dons.
’The indications showed that the transmission of bird flu to humans was still very low even for those who came into close contact with domestic poultry.’
The deadly H5N1 virus has reportedly killed millions of birds across Asia and most of the people who have died from the virus have worked closely with poultry, but there are fears the virus could mutate into a form that passes easily between people.
The University of Dar es Salaam statement however mentions that current literature indicated that the A/H5N1 group of viruses was poorly adapted to humans.
The virus cannot survive above 70 degrees centigrade and that cooking of chickens and birds could help kill the virus and thus minimize the spread of the disease to humans, the Guardian quotes the dons as saying.
The statement cautioned, however, that viruses are able to change their characteristics and thus the situation could change rapidly.
’The risks to people of contracting the virus from birds are low but there is still some risk so people should avoid handling wild birds especially sick waterbirds,’ it cautioned.
It urged members of the public to report to authorities of any sick or dying waterbirds including migrating stocks.
Some East African veterinary experts have also ruled out that the possibility of the spread of the disease in East Africa was quite minimal due to a number of reasons including the geographical position of the region.
Joseph Domenech, Veterinary Chief of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) has said the wild bird migrating
patterns that had brought the deadly H5N1 virus to Turkey and Romania may end in East Africa making it likely for the disease to reach the region.
Bird flu is an infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. These flu viruses occur naturally among birds. Wild birds worldwide carry the viruses in their intestines, but usually do not get sick from them.
However, bird flu is very contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill them.
Symptoms of bird flu in humans have ranged from typical flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches) to eye infections, pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases (such as acute respiratory distress), and other severe and life-threatening complications.
The symptoms of bird flu may depend on which virus caused the infection.
Source: allafrica.com
|
