Avian Influenza and Its Expected Ramifications

2754 Words6 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Economic impact from spanish flu

Over the past fifteen years H5N1 influenza (also known as Avian Flu or Bird Flu) has become a common topic of speculation and debate worldwide, causing quite a bit of confusion about its possible impacts on our society. At this point in time it is generally recognized by the international medical community that Avian Flu is bound to become a pandemic, most likely within the next ten years. Research on Avian Flu and its effects have led many scholars to make grave predictions of major global turmoil while a small portion of medical scientists remain skeptical, believing we will have enough time to thoroughly prepare for the outbreak. The one thing that nearly all health professionals seem to agree upon is that the avian flu will surely have a large impact on the development of humankind. To truly understand the threat of this disease and what we must do to prepare for it, we need to look at the issue from multiple angles and consider what the spread of a disease so lethal and so prone to mutation would mean for our daily lives, health professionals, laws and government procedures, and of course the continuation of the human race.

It is necessary in order to understand Avian Flu's impacts on society to first understand what H5N1 influenza is. Like any virus, influenza viruses cannot reproduce on their own the way bacteria can. Technically, viruses aren’t even alive because in order for them to reproduce, they must take over the living cell of another organism. This makes all viral diseases notoriously hard to cure because modern research has yet to reveal a medication or procedure that can kill a virus without killing its host. The best medications that we currently have available to treat viruses can only prevent the virus fro...

... middle of paper ...

...pe.com/viewarticle/757540>.

Swain, James C., Linda L. Chezem, Caroline S. Cooper, Kim B. Norris, Carolyn T. Ortwein, Ronald J. Taylor, Fred Wilson, Francis Schmitz, Daniel O'Brien, Clifford Reeves, Elaine Snyder,

13) Thomas, James C., and Siobhan Young. "Wake Me Up When There's a Crisis: Progress on State Pandemic Influenza Ethics Preparedness." American Journal of Public Health 101.11 (2011): 2080-082. ProQuest. ProQuest, 24 Jan. 2012. Web. 14 Apr. 2012. .

14) Thomas Rhatigan, Joseph A. Trotter, Christopher Billeter, and Lenzing Lahdon. "Guidelines for Pandemic Emergency Preparedness Planning: A Road Map for Courts." CDC.gov. Center for Disease Control, Apr. 2007. Web. 12 Apr. 2012. .

Show More
Related

  • Government Responses and Expectations During the Influenza Pandemic of 1918-1919

    1160 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...influenza pandemic in one way or another; the use of quarantines were extremely prevalent among them. Also, the pandemic is directly responsible for the creation of many health organizations across the globe. The organizations help track and research illnesses across the globe. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) for example, strive to prevent epidemics and pandemics. They also provide a governing body with directives to follow in case an outbreak does occur, and if one shall occur the efforts of organizations across the globe will be crucial for its containment. It is amazing that with modern medicine and proper organization that influenza still manages to make its appearance across the globe annually.

    Read More

  • Edna Pontellier’s Fall from Grace in Kate Chopin's The Awakening

    1991 Words  | 4 Pages

    Franklin, R. F. "The Awakening and the Failure of Psyche" American Literature 56 (Summer 1984): 510-526.

    Read More

  • Ambiguity in Kate Chopin's The Awakening

    3587 Words  | 8 Pages

    Sullivan, Barbara. "Introduction to The Awakening." In The Awakening, ed. Barbara Sullivan. New York: Signet, 1976.

    Read More

  • Kate Chopins' Awakening is Not a Tragedy

    1322 Words  | 3 Pages

    Sullivan, Barbara. "Introduction to The Awakening." In The Awakening, ed. Barbara Sullivan. New York: Signet, 1976.

    Read More

  • War and Influenza Epidemic

    842 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Great War rages on. An influenza epidemic claims the lives of several Americans. But, the Boston Red Sox have done it again. Last night, in a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Fenway Park (thanks to Carl Mays' three-hitter), the Boston Red Sox won their fifth World Series championship--amid death and disease, a reason to live ... Babe Ruth and the 1918 Red Sox. If I die today, at least I lived to see the Sox win the championship. For, it could be a long, long, time before this happens again.

    Read More

  • The Importance of Setting in The Awakening

    2217 Words  | 5 Pages

    New Essays on The Awakening. Ed. Wendy Martin. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1988.

    Read More

  • Influenza Virus' Economic and Social Disruption to Society

    837 Words  | 2 Pages

    However due to globalization, import and export viruses is more easily transmitted. Over the past century the global community especially Asian has been affected with new strains of the influenza virus. The changes in the virus can occur in two ways “antigenic drift” which are gradual changes in the virus over time. This change produces new strains that the antibody may not recognize. “Antigenic shift” On the other is a sudden change in the influenza virus which ‘’ results in a new influenza A subtype or a virus with a hemagglutinin or a hemagglutinin and neuraminidase combination that has emerged from an animal population,” as seen with H5N1 virus. This change leaves people defenseless against this new virus. (CDC, 2013) Currently there is no vaccine to combat all strains therefore “Planning and preparedness for implementing mitigation strategies during a pandemic requires participation by all levels o...

    Read More

  • The Origins of the Spanish Flu of 1918

    1906 Words  | 4 Pages

    A few years before 1918, in the height of the First World War, a calamity occurred that stripped the globe of at least 50 million lives. (Taubenberger, 1918) This calamity was not the death toll of the war; albeit, some individuals may argue the globalization associated with the First World War perpetuated the persistence of this calamity. This calamity was referred to the Spanish Flu of 1918, but calling this devastating pestilence the “Spanish Flu” may be a historical inaccuracy, as research and historians suggest that the likelihood of this disease originating in Spain seams greatly improbable. Despite it’s misnomer, the Spanish Flu, or its virus name H1N1, still swept across the globe passing from human to human by exhaled drops of water that contained a deadly strand of RNA wrapped with a protein casing. Individuals who were unfortunate enough to come in contact with the contents of the protein casing generally developed severe respiratory inflammation, as the Immune system’s own response towards the infected lung cells would destroy much of the lungs, thus causing the lungs to flood with fluids. Due to this flooding, pneumonia was a common cause of death for those infected with Spanish Flu. Due its genetic similarity with Avian Flu, the Spanish Flu is thought to be descended from Avian Flu which is commonly known as “Bird Flu.” (Billings,1997) The Spanish Flu of 1918 has had a larger impact in terms of global significance than any other disease has had because it was the most deadly, easily transmitted across the entire globe, and occurred in an ideal time period for a disease to happen.

    Read More

  • The Flu Shot Should Not Be Mandatory

    1095 Words  | 3 Pages

    --------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] Essen, G. A., "The Socio-Economic Impact of Influenza". http://www.eswi.org/Bulletin_October_1997.cfm [2] Frayha, Husn. " Influenza Vaccination: A Call for Action" http://www.kfshrc.edu.sa/annals/176/97-248R.html [3] "Influenza". http://www.caw.ca/whatwedo/health&safety/factsheet/hsfssubstanceno37.asp

    Read More

  • The Awakening and Ethan Frome

    943 Words  | 2 Pages

    Bogarad, Carley Rees. " The Awakening': A Refusal to Compromise." DISCOVERING the Authors. Detroit: Gale, 2003.

    Read More

  • The Effects of Religion on the New World

    1082 Words  | 3 Pages

    Roark, James L., Johnson,Cohen, Stage, Lawson, Hartmann. The American Promise . Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2005.

    Read More

  • Four Stages of Culture Shock Faced By Immigrants

    1688 Words  | 4 Pages

    Kiniry, Malcolm, and Mike Rose, eds. Critical Strategies, 3rd Ed. Boston, MA: St. Martin’s, 1998. Print.

    Read More

  • The Importance of the Influenza Vaccine

    1503 Words  | 4 Pages

    Illnesses have long haunted the human race. As long as these illnesses have existed, humans have developed ways to cure themselves, beginning with simple herbs and proceeding as far as vaccines and complex medicines. One cure that long eluded scientists was that of the influenza virus. Now, the influenza vaccine, or flu shot, saves thousands of lives a year and helps prevent serious complications resulting from influenza infection.

    Read More

  • Hn1 Flu Research Paper

    1918 Words  | 4 Pages

    In 2005, 10% of the bar-headed geese were killed by H5N1 flu. However, most of the birds that had been infected during these small outbreaks were located in a small decay poultry farms in central and southeastern Asia. Many of the bar-headed geese died, and the species is still trying to exist. They’re also not being eaten but humans, so therefore, the geese that are sick will not infect humans. The benefits of these countries are adopting more measures to contain this dangerous flu, such as examining the poultry farms more carefully and making sure they birds are living an a sanitary environment. The H5N1 flu has never been found in the United States. Nearly all of the bird in the United States has been vaccinated and not one bird has been recorded to have been infected or sick with H5N1 flu. Even though there is the possibility that the infected birds could and probably have migrate from Asia to Alaska, it is not thought to be a major problem for the human population since the migration of the birds are not commonly used as food. With human contact would be scarce with these birds. Many wild birds, such as geese, ducks, and hawks, will likely to be the most affected in this scenario. These wild birds almost never come in close contact with humans and the only plausible way to contract the H5N1 flu from a wild bird is

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay: Why People Should Be Vaccines

    1011 Words  | 3 Pages

    The flu is often thought of as a nuisance; nevertheless, it is deadly and could lead to other health complications. In total the flu kills over four hundred thousand people annually (WHO). Vaccination offers immunity to the three most prevalent strains of influenza circulating in any given season. Avoiding the flu means avoiding extra medical care costs and lost income from missing days of work or school. Furthermore, many people believe that by keeping good hygiene that it will eliminate the threat of becoming ill, however, that is untrue it only helps slow the spread of dangerous

    Read More

More about Avian Influenza and Its Expected Ramifications

Open Document