H5N1 Avian Flu - It's one of
16 varieties of avian influenza or bird flu. So far, it's the
only one that's shown any ability to directly pass from one human
to another. Around 60% of humans known to have been infected
with the current Asian strain of H5N1 have died from it, and
H5N1 may mutate into a strain capable of efficient human-to-human
transmission.
Indonesia is an area of great
significance when it comes to the H5N1 flu. It is the country
with, as of July 2008, the most case reported (135) and the most
deaths (110). While in Indonesia, I visited the bird market in
Yogyakarta and was amazed to see so many different species of
birds, all collected together in such close quarters with very
close contact with a large population of people.
Scientists are worried that
Avian Flu may become the next worldwide pandemic. Over ten billion
dollars have been spent and over two hundred million birds have
been killed to try to contain H5N1.
|