Chikungunya And Bird Flu - A Reason To Fear?

[CAkidd]

8th April 2006

Chikungunya And Bird Flu - A Reason To Fear?

Main Category: Bird Flu/Avian Flu News

Article Date: 08 Apr 2006 - 0:00am (UK)

Bird Flu and Chikungunya - we have all heard about it in the media. But is there a reason to be frightened and how big is the risk for you to catch these diseases in reality?

On 6 April the COST Office in Brussels organised a seminar on Bird Flu and Chikungunya, both viral infections of different kinds. Professor Marc van Ranst, the leading expert in this field from the University of Leuven informed the seminar about these two diseases and the actual risks that they represent for human beings.

Prof. van Ranst presentation showed that currently there is little risk for Europe regarding the Chikungunya virus (a tropical disease transferred by a particular species of mosquitoes). However, on the island of La Reunion a high percentage of the population is affected. In Europe some cases have been reported, affecting tourists coming back from their holiday on the Islands in the Indian Ocean. Prof. van Ranst concluded that there is practically no probability that the Chikungunya virus will be spread in Europe, because of the absence of the vector species.

The Bird Flu virus has already been recorded in Europe. Many people are afraid of an influenza pandemic such as that of 1918 in which more than 20 million people died. Prof. van Ranst clarified “the Bird Flu isn't something extraordinary and has existed for a long time already.” Until now there is no evidence of a pandemic and the Bird Flu virus can only be transferred from an infected bird to a human being by very close contact. The transfer from human being to human being is practically impossible.

Prof. van Ranst concluded his report stating that currently there are other diseases we should be much more concerned about, such as HIV, malaria and tuberculosis. Tens of millions of people die due to these diseases every year - a fact neglected by the public in general and not reflected in adequate research efforts in particular.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=41241&nfid=mnf

 

[DB]

Re: Chikungunya And Bird Flu - A Reason To Fear?

This professor is an dunce in regards to both Bird Flu and Chikungunya.

 

[DoubleD]

Re: Chikungunya And Bird Flu - A Reason To Fear?

The author shows an incredible lack of ability to see "what might be" as opposed to "what has been".

The evidence seems to be pointing to human to human transmission of chik - which means the old understanding of the disease no longer should be clung to. The old manner of containing it - also will likely be unsuccessful.

It may be that we are wrong too - that it is not H2H - just massive outbreaks of mosquitos infecting everyone - but the data is worrying enough that any scientist worth their salt would take steps to answer that question - not just dismiss it as "impossible".

 

[DB]

Re: Chikungunya And Bird Flu - A Reason To Fear?

Bingo DoubleD. Bingo.

What is even more worrisome is that there is conference on Bird Flu and Chikungunya. This is what I was hoping we would not see, Bird Flu and Chikungunya being discussed together.

To quote a good friend of this board:

"This is cause for concern"

 

[emmysue]

Re: Chikungunya And Bird Flu - A Reason To Fear?

(another double mention of the 2)

Concern over spread of chikungunya, bird flu
Friday April 7 2006 14:46 IST
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IE120060407042439&Topic=0&Title=Bangalore&Page=1

BANGALORE: In an interesting debate, the Legislative Assembly on Thursday expressed concern over rapid spread of Chikungunya and bird flu that is affecting poultry business across the country.

Health and Family Welfare Minister R Ashok, while assuring the House that the Government had taken all steps to counter Chikungunya, said that there was no bird flu outbreak in the State.

The issue was raised by Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge through a calling attention motion. Claiming that there were reports of over 13,000 Chikungunya infected birds in one taluk of Gulbarga alone, Kharge said that there was shortage of medicine and paramedical staff to tackle the menace.

Opposition leader Dharam Singh, Veerabasanth Reddy Mudnal and Vaijanath Patil also expressed concern over the issue.

RPI member Rajendran wondered how a large number of chicken were infected and said he suspected pharmaceutical companies may have had a role in spreading rumours to market their medicine.

Speaking in support of Rajendran, Vatal Nagaraj said that the rumours had affected the poultry industry. Kharge, fearing that the issue would be sidetracked, explained that Chikungunya was different from bird flu.

Vatal Nagaraj at once said that he knew that they were two different issues, but wanted an answer on how bird flu had occurred in the State and poultry farmers had been affected.

Ashok said that Government had deputed enough doctors and dispatched medicines to disease-affected areas.

Besides, the Government had released Rs 16 crore, so that the Medical Superintendents could purchase medicines from the market, if they fell short of Government-supplied medicine.

Stringent measures had controlled the menace in Pavagada taluk and the same measures were followed in Gulbarga and Raichur, too. The Government did not have enough foggers and had requested Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh to send the equipment, he added.

Ashok said that there was hardly any chance of bird flu outbreak in the State, as the disease affected only those who ate chicken cooked below 30 deg C.

However, chicken is cooked at 60 deg C in most instances and there was no need to fear outbreak of flu, he added.