Avian influenza (AI)

Avian influenza General information:

AI - Avian influenza or commonly known  “Bird Flu" is a very highly infectious viral infection which has affected all kind of birds and can make itself noticeable in different ways which mainly depends on the capability of the virus to cause pathogenicity and on  the species that it affects. Avian influenza which is generally known as bird flu means an influenza that is caused by viruses which are adjusted to the birds.  Bird flu is the same as flu caused due to dogs, pigs and horses i.e. it is an illness caused due to viruses that have adapted on to a particular kind of a host. Bird Flu is mainly made of 2 types – LPAI (Low Pathogenic Avian influenza) – is a very mild disease which may not be detected and HPAI (High Pathogenic Avian influenza) – spreads very fast and can even cause a mortality rate of 100% within 48 hours. H5N1 virus is causing great concern worldwide and it is a form of AI which is highly pathogenic. Viruses causing influenza in birds belong to the kind influenza A virus. All the sub-types of this virus are personalized to birds. 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 to birds is not restricted to a particular kind of bird but to many kinds.

Avian influenza Symptoms:

Migrant waterfowl and ducks carry these viruses causing bird flu. Often they themselves being unaffected , these host birds spread this infection to prone species, particularly domestic chickens, geese and turkey, leading to relentless epidemics that kill and sicken great numbers of birds in just a single day.

Avian influenza did not affect humans until 1997, when an outburst of bird flu started in Hong Kong infecting around 18 people, of who six died. From then onwards human cases of AI have been reported in countries like Asia, Middle East, Africa, Europe and the Pacific. Most of them were found to be in close proximity with the infected poultry or exterior which were contaminated by these sick birds.

The exact development period for Avian influenza in humans seems to develop from one to five days of contact with the virus. The first indication of the disease for some would be a very mild eye infection -conjunctivitis. But signs and symptoms of AI very much resemble that of the conventional influenza like Sore throat, Cough, Muscle aches and fever. Bird flu deaths are caused by the most virulent of the viruses the H5N1 leading to complications that are life- threatening like acute respiratory distress and viral pneumonia.

Avian influenza Treatment:

It is necessary to see the doctor soon after the development flu symptoms, like fever, body aches, sore throat and cough or have of late visited a part of the world where Avian influenza has occurred. Let the doctor know all the details of the travel and if visited any farms or markets that were open-aired. Doctors have developed tests that are fast and accurate to detect Avian influenza and specimen collected are sent to labs for further identification process. Work is conducted on viruses but since they mutate it very difficult to establish one particular kind. The initial treatment consists of the flu drug called as Tamiflu or oseltamivir. This drug works against the virus escaping back to the host cell. It is noticed that in Southeast Asia resistance is developing with the help of this drug. An alternative to this drug is Relenza (zanamivir). These drugs have to be taken within two days from the appearance of symptoms, like fever and cough. However, these drugs are not available enough for a world wide epidemic. The data collected by the American Osteopathic Association reported that between 1918–1919 influenza deadly diseases have reported that osteopathic physicians using their characteristic osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) techniques, practically observed a considerably lower mortality and morbidity rate among their patients as in contrast to those treated by allopathic physicians with typical medical care available at the time. On the basis of the results of the use of OMT in the 1918 Spanish influenza epidemic, it was proposed that OMT may be included as the overall treatment plan for patients affected with influenza.

The means by which these OMT procedures would benefit the treatment of Avian influenza are: these methods are known to improve the immune response of the patients, the patient would be provided with a means of avoiding complications and to support recovery, and these would improve the body workings by reducing hypertonicity of the tissue and hypomobility of the joint. These methods would provide biomechanical progress at the rib cage and the thoracic-abdominal diaphragm movement, which results in better respiratory movements, and improved arterial, lymphatic and venous circulation all through the body. This coupled with the patient's improved immune system comeback, would provide a   finest internal environment for the patient to get well from an illness such as AI.

OMT procedures are: