Avian Flu Alert Newsletter 1/6/2006

A Turning Point

This week, two teenagers (a brother and sister) have died from confirmed cases of Avian Flu (AF) in Turkey. These two cases mark a somber turning point in the mounting AF threat. They are sadly the first victims of AF in 2006, but they are also the first deaths outside of East Asia signifying the global spread of the disease.

Early in December worrisome reports from Thailand that AF had mutated began to appear in the news after the cause of one victim's infection was not found. Preliminary testing at the victim's home found no sign of the H5N1 virus. Within the following weeks further testing confirmed the cause was contact with infected chickens. Although this was good news, it was still unnerving. It was a sobering reminder about how quickly this threat could materialize.

Now Some Good News!

Researchers at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology (LIAI) have made significant advances toward developing a vaccine that will protect against all type A influenza viruses, including the Avian Flu H5N1 virus. This technology could be used to create a universal vaccine that will protect against a wide variety of flu viruses. This would be a monumental improvement over current flu vaccines, which can only protect against a few targeted strains using a "best guess" methodology.

Read more at: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/01/060102105226.htm

Other Bird Flu Resources:

Here is a great resource for more Avian Flu information that will keep you busy for a long time: http://fluwikie.com. Be sure to read the collection of flu preparedness guides. You can find them using the link below:

Sincerely,
Clint Fountain
Fluplan.com