Avian Influenza

Avian influenza, sometimes avian flu, and commonly bird flu, refers to "influenza caused by viruses adapted to birds.Of greatest concern is highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

"Bird flu" is a phrase similar to "swine flu," "dog flu," "horse flu," or "human flu" in that it refers to an illness caused by any of many different strains of influenza viruses that have adapted to a specific host. All known viruses that cause influenza in birds belong to the species influenza A virus. All subtypes (but not all strains of all subtypes) of influenza A virus are adapted to birds, which is why for many purposes avian flu virus is the influenza A virus (note that the "A" does not stand for "avian").

Adaptation is non-exclusive. Being adapted towards a particular species does not preclude adaptations, or partial adaptations, towards infecting different species. In this way strains of influenza viruses are adapted to multiple species, though may be preferential towards a particular host. For example, viruses responsible for influenza pandemics are adapted to both humans and birds. Recent influenza research into the genes of the Spanish flu virus shows it to have genes adapted to both birds and humans; with more of its genes from birds than less deadly later pandemic strains.
http://en.wikipedia.org

Influenza

Influensa, biasanya dikenali sebagai flu, adalah penyakit menular burung dan mamalia yang disebabkan oleh virus RNA dari famili Orthomyxoviridae (virus influensa). Penyakit ini ditularkan dengan medium udara melalui bersin dari si penderita. Pada manusia, gejala umum yang terjadi adalah demam, sakit tenggorokan, sakit otot, sakit kepala, hidung tersumbat dan mengeluarkan cairan, batuk, lesu serta rasa tidak enak badan. Dalam kasus yang lebih buruk, influensa juga dapat menyebabkan terjadinya pneumonia, yang dapat mengakibatkan kematian terutama pada anak-anak dan orangtua.

Masa inkubasi
Masa penularan hingga terserang penyakit ini adalah 1-3 hari.

Gejala
Demam mendadak, asma, pilek, sakit kerongkongan, batuk, sakit otot dan sakit kepala, bersin-bersin.

Karantina atau pengasingan
Penderita dianjurkan agar mengasingkan diri atau dikarantina agar tidak menularkan penyakit hingga mereka merasa lebih sehat.

Pencegahan
Kaum lanjut usia atau mereka yang mengidap penyakit kronis dianjurkan diimunisasi. Tapi perlu adanya alternative lain dalam mengembangkan imunitas dalam tubuh sendiri, melalui makanan yang bergizi dan menjahui potensi-potensi yang menyebabkan influensa.

Mutasi virus influensa
Virus influensa cepat sekali bermutasi, sehingga setiap kali para ahli virus harus berusaha menemukan penangkal yang baru. Beberapa tahun yang lalu kita mengenal flu Hong Kong dan pada tahun 2005 merebak flu burung. Semua ini menunjukkan betapa sulitnya usaha penangkalan terhadap penyakit ini.
http://id.wikipedia.org

The Hepatitis B Virus

Hepatitis B is what we used to originally known as just simply serum hepatitis. Hep B has been recognized as this new name since World War II. The virus is responsible for current epidemics in parts of Asia and Africa. Recognized as endemic in China and various other parts of Asia, the Hepatitis B virus has infected over one third of the world's current population.




Hepatitis B is in the Hepadnavirus family. Meaning that it consists of a proteinaceous core particle that has the viral genome inside of it in the form of double stranded DNA. It also has an outside lipid-based envelope that contains embedded proteins. These envelope proteins on the outside are involved in viral binding and release into susceptible cells. Where as the inner capsid refinds the DNA genome to a cell's nucleus where it transcribes viral mRNAs. Although HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and Hepatitus are not related they are both viruses that use reverse transcription process. This also include HTLV. Hepatitis B's genome is DNA, and reverse transcription is one of the latter steps of the entire process which results in making new viral particles. HIV on the other hand has an RNA genome and reverse transcription is one of the first steps in replication of the virus.

Hepatitis B is most commonly transmitted through direct exposure to bodily fluids that contain the virus. This is a wide category but in most cases includes:

- Re-using contaminated needles and syringes

- Uncleanly Blood transfusions

- Unprotected sexual contact

- Direct transmission from mother to child during childbirth

The dominant mode of transmission depends largely on the prevalence of the disease in a given area. For example if areas such as North America drug abuse and unprotected sex are the primary mode of infection. Where as in areas such as such as China where http://www.hepatitis-b-spot.com Hepatitis B is very prevalent, the vertical transmission(mother to child) is the most common. A mother who is positive for the Hepatitis B surface virus has a 20% risk of passing the infection to her offspring during birth. That percentage can rise to as high as 90% if the mother is also infected with the hepatitis B e antigen.

The older a person is at the time of infection, the greater the risk that their body will not clear the infection. Hepatitis B infection can lead to a permanent inflammation of the liver, the result of this inflammation leads cirrhosis. These affects largely increase the likelyhood of developing liver cancer.
by: Ryan Fyfe

Children’s Health – Chickenpox

When speaking about chickenpox, the first thing that comes to mind is those itchy rashes on the body. But what really is chickenpox? Chickenpox is an infectious illness which is caused by a kind of virus called varicella zoster. Although the virus can be caught by a grown up, children are usually the ones who are infected by such illness.

How do you know if your child has been infested by chickenpox?

Slight fever and itchy rash are two common symptoms of chickenpox. At the initial stage, smooth and red spots can be easily seen on the body and...

face and by the third day, these red spots will become blisters which can be extremely itchy.

How is the virus spread?

Chicken pox can spread through the air via sneezing or coughing from an infected person. A person can also catch the virus if he or she accidentally comes into contact with the liquid coming from a broken blister of an infected person.

Since chickenpox is highly contagious, you have to keep your child away from an infected person to minimize the risk of being infected. A person who has caught the virus is very contagious for the first two days. He or she can also spread the virus for the last 5 days or so before the rash starts to heal and become crusted.

Can your child be prevented from catching the virus?

Fortunately you can get your child vaccinated against catching chickenpox. If your child is between 1 to 12 years old, he or she may only need one shot while a person who is 13 years old and above may have to get two doses.

When a healthy child is injected with the chickenpox vaccine, his or her body will began to build resistance against the virus which causes chickenpox. But being vaccinated doesn’t mean 100 percent immune from catching the virus. In fact, there are still less than 15% of those who have been vaccinated catching the illness when directly contacted the virus. However, the good news is that when a vaccinated person is catch chickenpox, the illness is usually very mild.

Consult your family doctor to find out more information about chickenpox vaccination. It is best advice to get your children vaccinated as chickenpox can be serious when certain complications arise. Bacterial skin infection, encephalitis and pneumonia are just some of the serious complications. So prevention is always better than cure.
by: Stella Mak

Bird Flu Vaccines: What is Taking So Long?

With the current development of a vaccine for the H5N1 strain of the Bird Flu Virus still 2 to 3 years away. We don’t have much of a choice but to really be very cautious that the H5N1 strain does not mutate with a human flu virus.

If the outbreak we fear does happen without the vaccines ready yet, all we can

possibly do is just quarantine the geographical area where the virus is rampant. Give them the vaccines that have been developed and prevent them from spreading it further. This will only work if the outbreak is limited geographically. When the outbreak does happen to 10,000 places, we’re in Big S*%T.

The development of a vaccine is so slow because we still use methods dating back 50 years ago. Ironically this is because they still use chicken eggs to develop the vaccines. New methods are on the horizon, instead of using chicken eggs, they may be able to use mammal cells.

Scientist would be storing the mammal cells in large numbers. So that when a flu strain or threat develops, they can just inject it to the cells. The injected cells will then burst and die. The scientist will then harvest the proteins of the influenza and distribute them as vaccines already.

Vaccines made from DNA are really appealing because they could be made and administered quickly. However this kind of vaccine is still being tested on humans. DNA vaccine works by attaching itself to a segment of our DNA. It contains the coded information of the flu virus’ protein.
by: Michael Colucci

Avoid And Beat The Avian And Other Influenzas

Are you worried about the possible outbreak of the Avian Flu among humans? You should be! Hopefully, all of publicity about the Bird Flu will prove to be false alarms, but the worst thing any of us could do is to ignore it and hope it goes away, because it may not and one shudders to think about what could happen if it ever mutates to where it can be spread from human to human. Let's take a look at...

what we know so far about the Avian Flu:

First of all, the Avian Flu has not yet mutated and there is no need for panic, but there certainly is plenty of reasons for concern and a need to be vigilant, because the flu could easily mutate to one that is spread by humans - and it is the very nature of viruses to mutate. We should also be mindful of the fact that the world is due for another outbreak of a widespread and dangerous influenza epidemic of the kind that appear to occur on a regular basis about every 30 years.

If the Avian Flu does mutate to a human flu and is even partially as deadly as some predict, the resulting worldwide pandemic could be an epic modern day plague that changes the world as we know it and makes HIV, 9/11, the great Tsunami and the destruction of New Orleans seem mild by comparison - and there would likely be very little the world can do to prevent it. We can only hope that the next big worldwide influenza outbreak does not involve the current Avian Flu, or any other avian flu, because such flu would be a type that humans have not been exposed to and thus have no built in resistance to. Owing to this lack of built in resistance, such an outbreak involving that kind of flu could prove to be uniquely horrific.

In a normal outbreak of influenza, the most vulnerable are usually the elderly, the very young, and those who are already ill or otherwise in a weakened state - in other words, those whose immune systems are not strong enough to successfully ward off and fight illness. While a human version of the Avian Flu is likely to be every bit as deadly or more so for those who are the usual flu victims, unlike the usual varieties of influenza, the Avian Flu would actually be even more deadly for the group that is usually least affected by flu outbreaks: the most robust and healthy among us, the adults in the prime of life. That is because an avian flu like the Avian Flu turns the body's own immune system against itself and a strong immune system can become a deadly instrument of death as it over-reacts to a threat it has never been exposed to and releases a torrent of chemicals to combat the new threat which end up literally filling and eating up the lungs, suffocating what had been a strong and vigorous individual.

Such was exactly the case in a previous outbreak of another avian flu, one very similar to the Avian Flu. The Spanish Flu of 1918-19 was the most deadly epidemic in recorded history, killing 30 to 40 million or more people in one year – more than were killed in any war including Great World War, more than were killed in the 4 terrifying years of the Plague of Black Death (the Bubonic Plague) of 1347-1351, and more than were killed by HIV-AIDS in it’s first 25 years of existence. In the United States it infected 28% of all Americans, caused the deaths of at least 675,000 and in a single year was responsible for a 10 year drop in the life expectancy rate. In 1918, the death rate for influenza and pneumonia for 15 to 35 year olds was 20 times higher than in previous years.

Many authorities fear that if the modern day Avian Flu mutates to one that can be spread by humans, it could be an even more deadly flu than the one in 1918-19. Indeed, where humans have been exposed to infected birds and contracted the Avian Flu so far, the death rate appears to be significantly higher than it was for the deadly Spanish Flu.

The picture becomes truly staggering when you add to the expected high death rate the fact that the world population is now 2 1/2 times greater than it was in 1918-19 and not only is the population much larger, it is also much more concentrated with much more human interaction. And then you have the fact that, unlike the horse and buggy days of 1918-19, modern travel brings humans almost instantly to and from all points of the globe.

In all likelihood, only an immediate worldwide quarantine and shutdown of all travel would have a chance at stopping the spread of a worldwide pandemic, and that is something that is both unachievable and, at this point, unthinkable (although if the pandemic were to turn out to be as dire as some predict, such measures would probably be attempted out of desperation, but would surely prove far too late to stop the spread of the disease). Given the woeful response to the destruction of New Orleans, and the shortage of flu shots caused by the loss of a single facility only last year, perhaps one can more easily understand the estimates of many authorities and scientific figures that forecast staggering death tolls, some as high as 300 million or more worldwide.

The world has largely forgotten the horrible death tolls of the Spanish Flu, as well as the plague-like conditions that led to quarantines, death wagons, corpses lying abandoned in public streets, and breakdowns of social order and lawlessness that broke out in many places around the world. For those of us who would like a reminder, I suggest a trip to an old cemetery and take a look at the tombstones and grave markers for the years 1918-19, see how many there are compared to other years and how many times you will find multiple deaths in the same family for those years. It was a horrible time, now largely forgotten and to a great deal overshadowed by the end of World War I, but it is a lesson for us all if only we will open our eyes and see.

Perhaps the nightmare scenario I have painted is merely the stuff of dreams, and I certainly hope that proves to be the case. But I strongly suggest that we all take steps to prepare for the worst, just in case. Better that than be like the old fellow on the side of Mount Saint Helens who ignored all the warning signs, disbelieved all the scientists and scoffed at the idea of a deadly eruption right up to the point that he was incinerated.

While there may be little the world's governments may be able to do to stop the spread of a truly horrible influenza pandemic, there are things that we all can do to help avoid catching such a flu and to fight it off if we do catch it. Common sense tells us to practice very good hygiene and to avoid exposure to those who are infected. If a vaccine is available, it is probably a better idea to take it than not - even though vaccines are likely to be in short supply, will likely be mere guesswork since the virus has yet to mutate to a form that can be spread by humans and is likely to continue to mutate once it does, and is likely to contain mercury due to the probable use of an agent called thimerosal that is used to sterilize flu vaccines.

Beyond those obvious measures, I have also compiled the following information for anyone who wishes to avoid and combat influenza:

Avoiding the Flu:

The good news is that you can take steps to help you avoid the Bird Flu or any other flu when it comes, and to survive it if you happen to catch it. Included in these steps would be the things that you should do to protect yourself from virtually all diseases and illnesses: get plenty of rest, exercise, quit smoking, eat a nutritious diet, avoid stress and, above all, to make your body's natural first line of defense, your immune system, strong and robust.

Some of the very best immune boosters are:

* Echinacea (Despite the latest study)
* Pau d’arco
* Suma
* Astragalus
* Medicinal mushrooms
* Beta glucans
* Aloe vera
* Alkygycerol
* Lactoferrin
* Bovine colostrums
* Glutathione
* Mangosteen

The next thing you should do is to also take one or more good natural anti-viral agents, ESPECIALLY if the Bird Flu does mutate and begin to spread from human to human, because unlike other illnesses or flues, the Bird Flu will use your own immune system to attack you. This is because we have never been exposed to a strain of flu like the Bird Flu and it is likely that biochemical cascade of immune cells and immune system bio-chemicals such as interferon, interleukin, monokines and cytokines will literally pour into the lungs and eat your lungs up. With the Bird Flu, it is essential to also include good natural anti-viral supplements along with immune boosters - and it is a good idea to do that anyway.

Among the very best natural pathogen destroyers are:

* Garlic
* Olive leaf extract
* Oil of wild mountain oregano
* Grapefruit seed extract
* Colloidal Silver

A third thing to do would be to take regular preventative doses of a natural remedy known as “Oleander Soup”, which can be made at home according to the instructions in the e-book “Cancer’s Natural Enemy” (written by the author of this article).

Oleander extract has been proven in clinical trials, decades of medical practice and literally centuries of use as a folk remedy to be a very strong immune booster and disease and illness preventer. It has also demonstrated strong anti-viral abilities in the way that it attacks and kills cancer cells, as well as it’s effectiveness against hepatitis-C and HIV.

The fourth thing you should do is endeavor to stop the spread of airborne viruses during the flu season:

* Protect yourself from others by gargling daily with 1 drop each of the essential oils of tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) and lemon in a glass of warm water; stir well before each mouthful. Do not swallow.

* Mix a blend of essential oils to use in your diffuser or for use in steam inhalation.

Blend together:

* ravensare - 3 parts
* naiouli or eucalyptus - 1 part
* lemon - 1 part
* rosewood - 1 part
* lavender - 1 part

Ravensare and naiouli have antiviral properties, while the other essential oils in the blend act as antiseptics while at the same time providing a wonderful aroma.

Diffuser Application - Add about 50 drops of the above blend to your diffuser at a time.

Fumigate the house with oils to help prevent the spread of flu. Put 2-3 drops on a radiator to evaporate or add 10 drops of essential oils to a small plant spray filled with water. Spray the room frequently.

Hopefully, no serious flu outbreak will take place in your neighborhood, but forearmed is forewarned. Take the simple measures outlined above and your chances of beating the flu and perhaps avoiding it all together are much improved.

Live long, live healthy, live happy!
by: Tony Isaacs

The Importance Of Good Nutrition In Keeping Your Smile Beautiful And Your Mouth Healthy

A beautiful smile and healthy mouth actually can come from in addition to regular brushing and flossing a daily diet that does not lack the essential vitamins and minerals that make vital contributions to a person’s oral health. Many people overlook the importance of good nutrition in keeping their smile beautiful and...

their mouth healthy.

The mineral calcium and Vitamin D are of particular importance to obtaining healthy teeth. These two substances work together as calcium absorption is enhanced by Vitamin D. Sufficient calcium is essential to the very structure of the teeth as are phosphorus and magnesium.

Vitamin A is an essential part of the production of the tooth enamel. A deficiency in Vitamin A can cause overgrown gums, bleeding gums and gum disease. Vitamin C because of its role in the health and function of the small capillaries that bring oxygen and nutrients throughout the body is also important to oral health. Vitamin C deficiencies can result in bleeding gums and loose teeth as well as mouth sores The Vitamin B complex is also essential to a healthy mouth as deficiencies can cause cracking and bleeding of the lips as well as open sores and lesions on both the inside and outside of the mouth. These open sores aside from the discomfort that they cause offer an opportunity for a wide variety of bacteria, viruses and other contaminants to enter the blood stream.

Fluoride is widely known as an important agent in the prevention of tooth decay and is the active ingredient in the vast majority of toothpastes in the market today. In addition to acting to prevent tooth decay it also strengthens tooth enamel, working in partnership with calcium and phosphorus. Copper, zinc, iodine, iron and potassium are other minerals that are essential to good oral health.

It is unfortunate but true that most people do not eat well enough to obtain all of the vitamins, minerals and other necessary nutrients through their daily diets alone. Failing to meet the recommended daily intake levels of vitamins and minerals can result in significant health problems. Therefore, if you find that you are consistently not achieving these intake levels in your day-to-day diet you may want to consider using dietary supplements to meet your nutritional needs. Dietary supplements are safe when used properly. However, they should not be used as a substitute for healthy food as they are meant to complement the diet and only work best when they have real food to attach themselves to. If you find yourself unsure of which daily supplements you should include in your day-to-day nutritional plan a consultation with your healthcare professional or a licensed nutritionist can help you to make the selections best suited to your individual dietary needs and health goals.

While a beautiful smile and healthy mouth are certainly aesthetically pleasing and uplifting to one’s self-confidence, attention to oral health serves a practical purpose as well. Strong teeth mean that a wide variety of foods can be eaten while a healthy mouth means that there are no open sores in the mouth that can serve as an open invitation for bacteria, viruses and other contaminants to enter the bloodstream to cause illness, infection and disease. Making sure that your daily intake of the vitamins and minerals associated with oral health is sufficient in addition to daily dental care will ensure that you can have a lovely smile.
by: Charlene J. Nuble

Swine Flu - How To Protect Yourself Quickly & Easily

The guidelines state: INFORM / THE HIGHEST LEVEL / BASIC HYGIENE SOLUTIONS

Swine Flu:

The current issue of the swine flu, this is caused by an Influenza A type virus.

This determines the characteristics, such as shape and make up of the virus.

Byotrol from Northern Environmental kills this type of virus...


It is the infections that are caused by the swine flu virus that are difficult to control/treat.

Byocare Handmousse used on hard surfaces or hands kills the virus it does not treat the disease. Byotrol helps ‘prevent’ and protect – EN1500 with 30 minute and 16 hours control!

This may not be as direct proof as we like but we can be very confident that Byotrol is effective against flu virus

Below are some guidelines on our website – I have highlighted in red several of the many key features whereby simple, back to basic measures underpinned by the Byotrol Technology can help.

Swine Flu - Byotrol Publishes Guide Lines To Help Businesses

27th Apr 2009

Pandemic Flu Policy & Contingency Plan

1. INTRODUCTION

A Swine Flu ( influenza) pandemic has the potential to severely affect UK

Business, employees and their families, and requires specific planning over and above that made for disasters It is recommended the planning focuses on:

• Raising employees awareness of the threat of a pandemic and testing staff preparedness:

• Maintaining health surveillance and hygiene measures:

• Producing action plans that are specific to each of the business’s locations, taking into account local healthcare provision and regulatory systems governing drug licensing and stockpiling : and

• Enhancing protection for high risk and vulnerable employees.

2 Background

Pandemic influenza (flu) is a type of influenza that occurs every few decades and which spreads rapidly to affect most countries and regions around the world.

Unlike the “ordinary” flu that occurs every winter in the UK, pandemic flu can occur at any time of year.

Pandemic flu is much more serious than “ordinary” flu. As much as a quarter of the population may be affected – possibly more.

Pandemic flu is likely to cause the same symptoms as ordinary flu but the symptoms may be more severe because nobody will have any immunity or protection against the particular virus.

Swine influenza or “Swine Flu” is a contagious disease caused by mutation in influenza A viruses.

Swine Flu - How To Protect Yourself Quickly & Easily

3 Planning for a PANDEMIC

3.1 The CEO should be the business’s designated pandemic coordinator and a pandemic response team from across the business should be set up and trained in clearly defined rolls.

3.2 The functions of the pandemic response team includes

• Maintaining the team’s own awareness of global developments in Swine Flu (including guidance on containment strategies and vaccines)

• Developing training and awareness materials for the business

• Briefing the Management Board

• Ensuring links are maintained with external stakeholders in planning for a pandemic flu (e.g. suppliers, customers and where relevant the Public)

PANDEMIC RESPONSE

Working practices and social distancing

• Employees who are fit to return to work following an absence due to pandemic flu (and who have therefore developed immunity to the disease) might be considered for high-risk, essential roles.

• The company should establish flexible working policies, enabling line managers to agree home working, different shift patterns, or relocation to a site more local to the employee’s home where appropriate.

• Employees will be required to work at least one metre away from colleagues to ensure social distancing and managers will reconfigure work-site layouts to enable this to take place

• Other social distancing responses are likely to include:

o Absolutely no shared use of Telephones and mobiles

o Advising employees to avoid face-to-face meetings and to use telephone and internet services instead, where possible

o If this is not possible, meeting only in a large room and maintaining a distance of at least one metre between participants

o Advising employees to avoid crowded places (lifts) or heavily populated gatherings (e.g. sporting events)

o Advising employees to avoid travelling at busy periods on public transport

• Essential workers who are totally reliant on public transport may be offered dedicated transport to and from work

Infection Control

• During a pandemic the business should seek to reduce the overall and specific risks to members of staff by taking appropriate infection control actions (e.g. strengthening guidance on hand washing, unnecessary contact such as hand shaking and isolataion of any member of staff with symptoms such as coughing)

• Basic health protection advice including the following guidance:

o Avoid close contact

o Staying at home when sick or sickening

o Covering completely with disposable tissues mouth and nose when sneezing and coughing sanitising hands afterwards

o Avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth

• Additional protection measures will be taken to ensure that influenza does not spread through contaminated objects and surfaces, such as handles, railings and counters. Surfaces touched by hands will be cleaned at least daily using Byotrol products.

• Staff with flu-like symptoms will be required to stay at home until the symptoms disappear and will be allowed in the workplace only in extreme circumstances

• Staff developing symptoms at work will be accommodated in a designated isolation room while arrangements are made to transport them home. Precautions will be introduced for all those entering and leaving this room.

•

Swine Flu - How To Protect Yourself Quickly & Easily

Staff at risk of developing influenza-related complications (e.g. pregnant workers and those with compromised immune systems) will be reassigned from high-risk work sites and locations in the event of a pandemic.

Business and personal travel

• Only essential business travel should be considered during a pandemic and procedures for approving travel need to be tightened, requiring authorisation from a senior manager

• The pandemic response team should monitor travel plans and new procedures for notifying employees’ location during periods of business travel will be introduced in the event of a pandemic

• Staff required to visit pandemic-affected areas on business will be provided with appropriate health advice and personal protective equipment (e.g. masks, Byotrol based handwipes) and employees will have the right to refuse to travel to such areas

• Staff visiting affected areas for non-business purposes during a pandemic may need to be required to stay away from work for a period of quarantine on unpaid leave.

3.3 Goods services and functions of the business that are essential to its operations and survival will be defined and the Business will:

• Carry out devolution planning: i.e. plan which services can be carried out by other sites:

• Develop an order of succession: i.e. plan which services can be carried out by personnel other than those who normally given the task and train non-essential back-up staff to perform essential tasks

• Stockpile small quantities of essential supplies, materials and equipment

• Ensure that maintenance plans are up to date to guarantee that all equipment essential to the business’s operation is capable of sustained operation in the event of a pandemic

• Prepare time lines for how long it will be possible for the Business to carry out its essential functions without critical supplies, personnel and equipment

• Produce forecasts of employee sickness absence during a pandemic flu

• Put in place policies to enable flexible working (e.g. home- working ) in the event of a pandemic flu:

• Put in place a pandemic response team that will take steps to heighten awareness of the Business infection control procedures, particularly provisions covering hand hygiene:

• Provide specific training for all employees and students on personal, workplace and family protection and actions to take as a pandemic develops;

• Prepare employee support services, including grief counselling and psychiatric care ;

• Ensure that adequate supplies of infection control materials (Byotrol mousse for hand hygiene, surface sprays, wipes, gloves and masks) are held in preparedness for a pandemic.

The Byotrol hand hygiene programme is just one element of our ‘Hygiene Revolution’ whereby we can challenge and manage the Critical Control Points within food processing / preparation / service:

Floors / Food Contact surfaces / Hands

Product offering:

Hand Hygiene / Skin care Unit Pack End user unit price

Byocare Mousse

50ml 30 x 50ml £2.99

Byocare Mousse

600ml 12 x 600ml £8.50

Byocare Mousse

5L - re-fill 4 x 5L £16.00

Swine Flu - How To Protect Yourself Quickly & Easily

FOOD MANUFACTURING

For Food-processing, food-preparation and food-service there are complex hygiene issues such as:

 Food preparation: deli, bakery, on site food prep: sandwiches etc

Floors: HD Food Safe Degreaser/ food contact surface Byosan, Cleaner Sanitiser + (Ready for use), Byowipe (Byosan liquid inside)

 Food storage, display and check out – floors, shelving, check-out conveyors

Broad spectrum usage: Byowipe – kills and protects / multi surface usage

 People ‘hands’: one of the major contributing factor for food spoilage and pathogens – some statistics claim upto 80% can be attributed to poor hand hygiene

(General public: circa 40% of men and 20% of women do not wash their hands after using the toilet)

(Catering workers: circa 50% do not wash their hands prior to preparing food)

Byocare – hand hygiene programme: soap, sanitiser, dispensers, training programme
by: Simon Doderer

Tips On How To Prevent Catching Swine Flu

With many deaths recorded in Mexico, a new strain of swine flu virus is sweeping the globe. Several nations have suspect cases reported, from as far away as Hong Kong, Canada, Israel France and New Zealand.

Caused by type A influenza Swine flu, is a respiratory disease. Studies have shown that the swine flu, H1N1, is...

common throughout pig populations worldwide, with 25% of all animals displaying antibody evidence of having the disease. These are scary facts.

Swine flu viruses don't usually infect humans. The current swine flu, however, has a toxic mix of a gene segment from bird flu, a segment from human flu, plus two genes from pig flu. Pigs are well known as being the earth's most efficient 'mixing bowls'. The completely unknown virus is creating havoc, as humans have no immunity to it.

Swine flu can’t be contacted through eating pork products, however human-to-human infections are happening, without the victims having any contact with infected animals.

Here are a few simple precautions you need to take to provide effective self-protection against the threat of a global pandemic:

•Make sure you cover your nose and mouth if you sneeze or cough. Ensure you get rid of the tissue in the rubbish can after you use it. Keep a mask handy in case anyone sneezes or coughs around you.

One sneeze alone projects 100,000 droplets into the air at a speed of approximately 90 mph, settling on ATM and computer keypads, elevator buttons, door knobs, escalator railings and grocery trolley handles.

British researchers report that in a subway rail-station at rush hour, as high as 10 percent of all travellers can come in contact with the spray and residue from just one sneeze. That means as many as 150 commuters can be infected by one uncovered cough, or sneeze. The stream of air hurtling from a cough, moves at speeds that are close to 600 mph.

•Always wash your hands frequently, for up to 20 seconds, with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Always wash your hands thoroughly prior to eating and whenever possible do not eat with your hands.

It is estimated that around 80 percent of all infections are passed on by hands. If you aren't able to wash your hands, use hand-sanitizers which have 60% alcohol content. These are readily available in handy pocket size containers.

•Try to avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth and definitely avoid kissing on the cheeks.

Germs are spread more quickly through that method of transmission.

•Try to stay away from sick people. Isolation and keeping your distance are your most efficient protective measures.

•Stay home from work or school if you get sick and keep your contact with others limited, so as to not infect anyone else.

•Keep aware and recognize any abnormal symptoms. If you are in doubt, go and seek professional advice.

•Ensure you eat well, closely monitor your sleep habits and make sure you exercise regularly. Upgrade your vitamin C intake and ensure you practice good hygiene.

Swine flu can be treated. Though it is unaffected by two of the four drugs approved for treating flu, two new arrivals, Tamiflu and Relenza have proven to be successful.

Mexico has hundreds of industrial-scale pig facilities, known as 'confined animal feeding farms', where the hogs are packed in tight rows. Thousands of pigs are contained in indoor pens and grain-fed for the market. Breeding sows are baled-up in small metal crates where they spend most of their lives, either pregnant or nursing a new litter of piglets.

Up until now, Mexican hog workers, infected with swine flu, have rarely been the cause of infecting other humans, except for close family members.
by: Wendy Stenberg-Tendys

Confirmed cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus in three countries in the WHO European Region

On 27 April 2009, National Focal Points (NFPs) for the International Health Regulations (IHR) informed WHO/Europe about the detection of four confirmed cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection: two cases...

each in Spain and the United Kingdom. On 28 April 2009, the NFP of Israel reported an additional confirmed case.

The five people with confirmed cases in the WHO European Region presented with mild illness and had recently returned from travel in Mexico. As of 27 April 2009, 43 additional people in 8 countries in the Region were under investigation for infection.

Situation in the European Region

The reports of confirmed cases from Israel, Spain and the United Kingdom reflect important steps taken by the national authorities to ensure early detection and response in association with the evolving situation in the Americas. National authorities are advised to intensify surveillance efforts for the early detection of people who may be infected with swine influenza A (H1N1) virus and may transmit the infection to others.

On 27 April 2009, the WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr Marc Danzon, informed the health ministers, chief medical officers and NFPs in the Region of WHO/Europe’s response. He acknowledged that cooperation between WHO and national and international counterparts was crucial in preparing for and responding to the potential spread of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus in the European Region.

WHO/Europe is working closely with the Directorate-General for Health and Consumers of the European Commission and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Similarly, WHO is in close consultation with development partners, United Nations agencies and other international organizations (including those involved in trade and travel), and manufacturers of vaccines, drugs, diagnostic equipment and personal protection equipment.
Global situation

The five cases in the WHO European Region are the first confirmed cases identified outside the Americas. The WHO headquarters web pages on swine influenza offer additional information on the global situation, including Canada, Mexico and the United States of America.
Change in pandemic alert level

On 27 April 2009, the second meeting of the Emergency Committee was convened as stipulated under the IHR. Following the Committee’s advice, the WHO Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan, decided to change the current phase of pandemic alert from level 3 to level 4.

This decision was based primarily on epidemiological data demonstrating human-to-human transmission and the ability of the virus to cause community-level outbreaks. As further information becomes available, WHO may decide either to revert to phase 3 or to raise the level of alert further.

The outcome of the Emergency Committee’s meeting included recommendations to countries not to close borders or to restrict international travel. It is considered prudent for people who are ill to delay international travel and for those developing symptoms following international travel to seek medical attention. In addition, WHO will facilitate the process needed to develop a vaccine effective against the A (H1N1) virus.

WHO published interim guidance for the surveillance of human infection with swine influenza A (H1N1) virus, including case definition and requirements for reporting to WHO, on 27 April 2009.

Avian Influenza: Current H5N1 Situation

The highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) epizootic (animal outbreak) in Asia, Europe, the Near East, and Africa is not expected to diminish significantly in the short term. It is likely that H5N1 virus infections among domestic poultry have become endemic in certain areas and that sporadic human infections resulting from direct contact with infected poultry and/or...

wild birds will continue to occur. So far, the spread of H5N1 virus from person-to-person has been very rare, limited and unsustained. However, this epizootic continues to pose an important public health threat.

There is little pre-existing natural immunity to H5N1 virus infection in the human population. If H5N1 viruses gain the ability for efficient and sustained transmission among humans, an influenza pandemic could result, with potentially high rates of illness and death worldwide. No evidence for genetic reassortment between human and avian influenza A virus genes has been found to date, and there is no evidence of any significant changes to circulating H5N1 virus strains to suggest greater transmissibility to or among humans. Genetic sequencing of avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses from human cases in Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia shows resistance to the antiviral medications amantadine and rimantadine, two of the medications commonly used for treatment of influenza. This leaves two remaining antiviral medications (oseltamivir and zanamivir) that should still be effective against currently circulating strains of H5N1 viruses. A small number of oseltamivir resistant H5N1 virus infections of humans have been reported. Efforts to produce pre-pandemic vaccine candidates for humans that would be effective against avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses are ongoing. However, no H5N1 vaccines are currently available for human use.

Research suggests that currently circulating strains of H5N1 viruses are becoming more capable of causing disease (pathogenic) in animals than were earlier H5N1 viruses. One study found that ducks infected with H5N1 virus are now shedding more virus for longer periods without showing symptoms of illness. This finding has implications for the role of ducks in transmitting disease to other birds and possibly to humans as well. Additionally, other findings have documented H5N1 virus infection among pigs in China and Vietnam; H5N1 virus infection of cats (experimental infection of housecats in the Netherlands, isolation of H5N1 virus from domestic cats in Germany and Thailand, and detection of H5N1 viral RNA in domestic cats in Iraq and Austria); H5N1 virus infection of dogs (isolation of H5N1 virus from a domestic dog in Thailand); and isolation of H5N1 viruses from tigers and leopards at zoos in Thailand). In addition, H5N1 virus infection in a wild stone marten (a weasel-like mammal) was reported in Germany and in a wild civet cat in Vietnam. Avian influenza A (H5N1) virus strains that emerged in Asia in 2003 continue to evolve and may adapt so that other mammals may be susceptible to infection as well.
Notable findings of epidemiologic investigations of human H5N1 cases include:

* Thailand, 2004: An investigation concluded that probable limited human-to-human spread of influenza A (H5N1) had occurred in a family as a result of prolonged and very close contact between an ill child and her mother in a hospital. Transmission did not continue beyond one person.
* Vietnam, 2004: While the majority of known human H5N1 cases have begun with respiratory symptoms, one atypical fatal H5N1 case in a child in southern Vietnam presented with fever, diarrhea and seizures, and was initially diagnosed as encephalitis. The etiology was identified retrospectively as H5N1 virus through testing of cerebrospinal fluid, fecal matter, and throat and serum samples. Further research is needed to ascertain the implications of such findings.
* Vietnam, 2005: Investigations suggest transmission of H5N1 viruses to two persons through consumption of uncooked duck blood.
* Azerbaijan, 2006: Investigations revealed contact with H5N1-infected wild dead birds (swans) as the most plausible source of infection in several cases in teenagers involved in removing feathers from the birds.
* Indonesia, 2006: WHO reported evidence of limited human-to-human spread of H5N1 virus. In this situation, 8 people in one family were affected, with 7 deaths. H5N1 virus was isolated from 7 cases. The first family member is thought to have become ill through contact with infected poultry. This person then infected six family members. One of those six people (a child) then infected another family member (his father). No further spread outside of the exposed family was documented or suspected.
* Vietnam, 2006: A study reported a correlation between high H5N1 viral concentration and elevated inflammatory cytokine levels in fatal cases. The authors concluded that early antiviral treatment is needed to suppress H5N1 viral replication to prevent the inflammatory response that appears to be implicated in the pathogenesis of H5N1 virus infection.

Human H5N1 Cases

(WHO) has reported human cases of avian influenza A (H5N1) in Asia, Africa, the Pacific, Europe and the Near East. Indonesia and Vietnam have reported the highest number of H5N1 cases to date. Overall mortality in reported H5N1 cases is approximately 60%. The majority of cases have occurred among children and adults aged less than 40 years old. Mortality was highest in cases aged 10-19 years old. Studies have documented the most significant risk factors for human H5N1 infection to be direct contact with sick or dead poultry or wild birds, or visiting a live poultry market. Most human H5N1 cases have been hospitalized late in their illness with severe respiratory disease. A small number of clinically mild H5N1 cases have been reported. The current cumulative number of confirmed human cases of avian influenza A/(H5N1) is available on the WHO Avian Influenza website. Despite the high mortality, human cases of H5N1 remain rare to date.
Clusters of Human H5N1 Cases

Clusters of human H5N1 cases ranging from 2-8 cases per cluster have been identified in most countries that have reported H5N1 cases. Nearly all of the cluster cases have occurred among blood-related family members living in the same household. Whether such clusters are related to genetic or other factors is currently unknown. While most people in these clusters have been infected with H5N1 virus through direct contact with sick or dead poultry or wild birds, limited human-to-human transmission of H5N1 virus cannot be excluded in some clusters.
Animal H5N1 Cases

Since December 2003, avian influenza A (H5N1) virus infections in animals have been reported in Asia, Africa, the Pacific, Europe and the Near East. View the update on avian influenza in animals from the World Organization for Animal Health Web site.
Bird Import Ban

There is currently a ban on the importation of birds and bird products from H5N1-affected countries. The regulation states that no person may import or attempt to import any birds (Class Aves), whether dead or alive, or any products derived from birds (including hatching eggs), from the specified countries. For more information, see Embargo of Birds from Specified Countries.
Travel

Updated Information for Travelers about Avian Influenza A(H5N1) is available at the CDC Travelers’ Health Web site. Also see Guidelines and Recommendations - Interim Guidance about Avian Influenza A (H5N1) for U.S. Citizens Living Abroad.
CDC Response

CDC is working with WHO and other international partners to monitor the situation closely. In addition, CDC continues to work with WHO and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on development of a vaccine for influenza A (H5N1). For more information view CDC's Response to Avian Influenza.

* Also see Updated Interim Guidance for Laboratory Testing of Persons with Suspected Infection with Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus in the United States for CDC’s domestic H5N1 surveillance recommendations.

The World Health Organization has additional resources and information on avian influenza A H5N1, including

* Recommendations and laboratory procedures for detection of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus in specimens from suspected human cases (pdf 165K, 28 pages)
* WHO guidelines for investigation of human cases of avian influenza A(H5N1) (pdf 115K, 18 pages)
* Collecting, preserving and shipping specimens for the diagnosis of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection Guide for field operations (pdf 2.36M, 83 pages)

Background on the Current Outbreaks

Highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) virus is an influenza A virus subtype that occurs mainly in birds and is highly contagious among birds, causing high mortality among domestic poultry. Outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 among poultry and wild birds are ongoing in a number of countries. Currently, there are two different groups (or clades) of H5N1 viruses circulating among poultry (clade 1, and clade 2 viruses). At least three subgroups or subclades of clade 2 H5N1 viruses have infected humans to date: subclades 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3 viruses. H5N1 virus infections of humans are rare and most cases have been associated with direct poultry contact during poultry outbreaks. While the H5N1 virus does not now infect people easily, infection in humans is very serious when it occurs; so far, more than half of people reported infected have died. Rare cases of limited human-to-human spread of H5N1 virus may have occurred, but there is no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission.

Nonetheless, because all influenza viruses have the ability to change, scientists are concerned that H5N1 viruses one day could be able to infect humans more easily and spread easily from one person to another. Because H5N1 viruses have not infected many humans worldwide, there is little or no immune protection against them in the human population and an influenza pandemic (worldwide outbreak of disease) could begin if sustained H5N1 virus transmission occurred. Experts from around the world are watching the H5N1 situation very closely and are preparing for the possibility that H5N1 viruses may begin to spread more easily from person to person.

Welcome to the Influenza Virus Tracking System (interim)

The World Health Organization (WHO) is developing an electronic system to track influenza A(H5) and other sub-type viruses potential of a pandemic that have been shared by Member States with WHO through the Global Influenza Surveillance Network (GISN). This is in ...

response to the request from the inter-governmental meeting (IGM) on sharing of influenza viruses and access to vaccines and other benefits.

The tracking system, currently available as an interim version, tracks the A(H5) and other potential pandemic sub-type viruses and clinical specimens that have been shared with WHO since 24 November 2007, as well as all A(H5N1) viruses that have been developed into candidate vaccine viruses and these candidate vaccine viruses since 2004.

The current interim tracking system indicated the following details:

* What A(H5N1) viruses/specimens have been shared with WHO
* Where these viruses/specimens are located
* What progeny materials have been generated
* Analyses that have been conducted on the viruses/specimens progeny materials
* Development of reassortant viruses as candidate vaccine viruses
* Distribution of viruses/specimens, progeny materials and candidate vaccine viruses

Improvement of the interim system is ongoing and it is anticipated that this system will be upgraded in the future.

Currently, data entry is conducted by WHOCollaborating Centers on influenza, WHO H5 Reference Laboratories, and Essential Regulatory Laboratories which are involved in the WHO A(H5N1) vaccine virus selection and development process. These are designated WHO laboratories.