| Asia is one of the most affected areas when it | | | | more common among birds. The favorite area is Asia. |
| comes to the influenza A H5N1, or bird flu. Countries | | | | The virus spreads quickly and it is being shed in the |
| like China, Korea, India or Vietnam had to face the | | | | birds' saliva, nasal secretions or faeces. At least 9 |
| bird flu pandemics. In the year when all Asia was | | | | birds out of 10 die after developing this virus. |
| thinking about the tsunami that swept across the | | | | H5N1 is the virus that realized the crossing of the |
| Indian Ocean another disaster occurred. Two children | | | | species barrier. In 1997 it was registered the first |
| died in Vietnam because of the virus causing bird flu. | | | | case of bird flu virus passed to a human. This took |
| This problem occurred in 2005 could lead to even | | | | place during the outbreak of avian influenza among |
| more damage than the disastrous tsunami so a | | | | poultry in Hong Kong. Because of this virus six people |
| special attention was given to it. | | | | died. |
| We can also mention the flu pandemic in 1918 that | | | | Some specialists believe that new flu pandemics will |
| killed more than 20 million people all over the world. | | | | occur in the same regions as before. The believed |
| Remembering about it the specialists began to worry | | | | cause is that people live close to their animals that |
| about another pandemic. | | | | can be carrying the virus. As an example we might |
| The occurrence in humans of this type of virus that | | | | say that a domestic duck may carry H5N1 without |
| is mostly common among birds gave the specialists a | | | | symptoms and only after a period to release it. |
| sign that viruses are beginning to change or even | | | | In the last years the health organizations got to the |
| mutating. This meant a threat for the whole | | | | conclusion that more than 150 people died because |
| population. | | | | of bird flu. The reported cases of infected people are |
| H5N1 is a virus that usually affects birds. It occurs is | | | | higher, up to 264 cases. |
| wild birds that are not affected. These birds spread | | | | A greater problem is the conclusion of a study that |
| the virus among the domestic birds which are in | | | | says that besides birds, mice and cats may become |
| danger. The virus affects their internal organs and | | | | infected too. This proves that the virus mutates and |
| may lead to death in most of the cases. | | | | may, anytime lead to a human H5N1 pandemic. |
| More important is that H5N1 is getting more and | | | | |