| How can you know whether your or a loved one | | | | Severe headaches Bone aches Severe fatigue |
| has bird flu or just a case of ordinary flu? | | | | lasting longer than ordinary flu Stuffy nose |
| That's not a simple question to answer. | | | | Dizziness Diarrhea |
| | | | |
| Frankly, the only 100% way is to have body | | | | During the first one or two days, bird flu |
| secretions tested by a World Health | | | | will look exactly like ordinary flu. |
| Organization (WHO) laboratory such as the | | | | |
| U.S. Center for Disease Control in Atlanta | | | | The big difference -- and danger -- from its |
| Georgia. There are also such laboratories in | | | | development. Bird flu tends to cause much |
| Melbourne Australia and London England. | | | | more severe breathing problems than ordinary |
| | | | flu, plus triggers a much more severe |
| Obviously, they are not available to just any | | | | counteraction by your body's immune system. |
| and every household and clinic with a flu | | | | |
| patient. Right now there're probably | | | | This can result in a fever that's high enough |
| overwhelmed with testing new and suspected | | | | to be dangerous in itself. |
| cases in Southeast Asia, Europe and Africa. | | | | |
| | | | If you or your loved one develops a high |
| If you have good reason to believe that you | | | | fever and/or difficulty breathing, definately |
| have been exposed to bird flu, then you | | | | see a doctor as soon as possible. Or any of |
| should go right away to a clinic or hospital | | | | the other symptoms associated with just bird |
| to be tested and get the care you'll need if | | | | flu. Whether you've got bird flu or not, you |
| your case becomes severe. | | | | need professional medical care. |
| | | | |
| You have good reason to believe you have been | | | | Last November 2005, a biotech company in |
| exposed to bird flu if you live in or have | | | | Singapore named Rockeby announced that they'd |
| travelled recently in SouthEast/South Asia, | | | | come up with a quick test for bird flu. |
| the Mid-East, Europe or Africa. Especially if | | | | |
| you work with or around chickens or you have | | | | According to WHO, their test is not proven |
| been around chickens. That is, to a chicken | | | | yet. You can get more information on it from |
| market or to a cock fight (where chicken | | | | searching Google for Rockeby. |
| blood and other fluids and sprayed through | | | | |
| the air and onto the audience.) And also if | | | | WHO has said they are working on a standard |
| you've eaten any undercooked chicken or eggs | | | | test for bird flu, but that has not come out |
| from those areas. | | | | yet. Until it does, they say the only |
| | | | recognized tests for bird flu must be done by |
| If you are in those areas and feeling very | | | | their laboratories. |
| sick, get medical attention immediately even | | | | |
| if you have not been exposed to chickens. You | | | | And of course, my final piece of advice |
| never know -- when bird flu becomes highly | | | | should be obvious. |
| contagious, somebody is going to be the first | | | | |
| victim to have no exposure to chickens. I | | | | When there's an all-out pandemic of |
| hope it's not you, but I don't know that. | | | | contagious bird flu anywhere in the world and |
| | | | you start feeling sick with the flu -- assume |
| Right now, those of us who live in North or | | | | it is bird flu. |
| South America have no direct exposure to bird | | | | |
| flu. But of course that will eventually | | | | Treat yourself or your loved one accordingly. |
| change. And it's possible somebody could | | | | Get professional medical care. |
| catch it from a migrating duck. | | | | |
| | | | Even if bird flu has not been reported in |
| For example, near my apartment there's a | | | | your country or your area, assume you've got |
| small municipal park with a nice pond stocked | | | | it. A pandemic of contagious bird flu will |
| with fish . . . and ducks love it! In nice | | | | make people ill in new areas before you hear |
| weather hundreds of people especially | | | | about them on the news. |
| children are exposed to ducks and their | | | | |
| manure. | | | | Besides, while ordinary flu is not dangerous |
| | | | for ordinary adults, it still kills 30-50,000 |
| The difficult thing is that bird flu is, | | | | Americans every year and tens of thousands |
| first of all, influenza. It infects the cells | | | | more people around the world -- so it's still |
| lining your respiratory tract and therefore | | | | a serious disease. |
| causes symptoms that are much the same as | | | | |
| ordinary flu: | | | | Whether you have bird flu or ordinary flu, |
| | | | treat yourself well, get proper medical care |
| Fatigue Coughing Sneezing Muscle pain High | | | | -- and do not attempt to go to work or |
| fever Sore throat Conjunctivitis -- pink eye | | | | anyplace besides a doctor. |
| | | | |
| Bird flu can also cause: | | | | Whatever virus you've got, do us all a favor |
| | | | and don't spread it around. |
| Stomach ache Vomiting - including blood | | | | |