Looks at the H5N1 strain of bird flu and how it is effecting the world bird population and what its potential impact will be on the world human population should it become easily transmittable.

Humans have no natural immunity to bird flu. Its symptoms are severe and can lead to death within five to six days. While so far all victims have caught the virus directly from infected birds, many scientists fear that it is just a matter of time before the virus mutates and begins to spread from human to human, leading to a pandemic that could kill up to 40 million people around the world. Cutting through the deluge of news stories about bird flu, this definitive guide explains how the bird flu virus works, the harm that it has already caused in Asia, why it will be so deadly if it begins to spread between humans, and what has been done so far to protect communities from the threat (not enough, many scientists fear). It will look at the antiviral drugs which offer us short-term protection, but also investigate why we have done so little to invest in vaccine development. In addition to giving the background story of the bird flu pandemic, the book is full of practical information on what people can do to protect themselves, including advice from experts on how to boost the immune system and procedures to follow if the pandemic arrives. Everyone needs to know as much as they can abo

Every year, between 4 and 20 percent of the world population catches some form of influenza. Influenza, or the flu, is an infection caused by a viruses, much like the common cold. But unlike the common cold, the flu--whether seasonal, avian, or swine, has killed millions around the world throughout recorded history. Advances in science are producing effective vaccines and medications to combat this disease, but the influenza virus continues to change. Learn what the flu is and what it is not, what different types of flu exist, how to avoid infection, and what to do if you get the flu. This book is developed from INVESTIGATING INFLUENZA AND BIRD FLU: REAL FACTS FOR REAL LIVES to allow republication of the original text into ebook, paperback, and trade editions.

Avian Flu is one of the high profile killer viruses that has obsessed the media and terrorized the world. Though this particular flu virus has gained even more attention and spread more dread than most other deadly viruses and pandemics, the fear and hysteria are out of proportion to the actual threat level at this point. Avian Flu offers both calm and rational reassurance concerning the nature and extent of the threat and practical, real-world advice on how to protect against the virus and what steps to take should the disease hit our shores.

Bird Flu Sweeps Through Asia; The Rest Of The World Has Begun To Worry That It Might Spread West And Start Infecting Humans. As Many Experts Have Pointed Out, An Influenza Pandemic Is Only A Matter Of Time And That Time Could Be Now. Bird Flu Is Hard For Humans To Contract, But Health Officials Warn A Major Flu Outbreak Could Occur If The Virus Mutates Into A Form That Can Spread Easily From Person To Person. In People, Bird Flu Usually Begins Much Like Conventional Influenza, With Fever, Cough, Sore Throat And Muscle Aches, But Bird Flu Can Lead To Life-Threatening Complications. Bird Flu Book Is An Excellent Resource Guide That Provides Extremely Valuable And Up To Date Information Concerning One Of The Most Serious Issues In The Global News Today Avian Influenza, Pandemic Influenza Virus Or Influenza Virus A And The Impending Threat Of A Worldwide Pandemic That Could Cost Millions Of Lives And Cripple The Global Economy. The Bird Flu Book Was Complied Using Extensive Current Information And Research Obtained From Many Of The Global Government Agencies That Have Had Significant Experience In Dealing With Viruses, Pandemics, And Similar Crisis Issues And Therefore, Are Able To Inform Us Of What We Need To Know To Prepare Ourselves. Contents Chapter 1: Bird Flu: An Introduction; Chapter 2: Bird Flu Viruses; Chapter 3: Avian Influenza Virus; Chapter 4: Influenza Virus A; Chapter 5: Pandemic Influenza; Chapter 6: Bird Flu: Transmission And Vaccines; Chapter 7: Bird Flu: Safety Measurement And Prevention.

"Marc Siegel is an articulate voice of reason in a world beset by hype and hysteria. We would be well advised to listen closely to what he has to say." -Jerome Groopman, M.D., staff writer, the New Yorker "Siegel cuts through the hype about the 'deadly' this and the 'lethal' that, and applies reason in seeking the answers." -John M. Barry, author of The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History "Timely and needed. At such times, we need soothsayers and explicators to redirect the ready-fire-aim mindset. Siegel's book fulfills this role well." -The Journal of the American Medical Association As bird flu sweeps through Asia, the rest of the world has begun to worry that it might spread west and start infecting humans. As many experts have pointed out, an influenza pandemic is only a matter of time and that time could be now. Or is it? In Bird Flu, Dr. Marc Siegel cuts through the hype, the facts, the fears, and the realities to explain what has the experts so worried and why there's still plenty of reason to be calm. Among the questions he answers are: * What is bird flu, and who has it? * What can I do to protect my family? * Should I stockpile Tamiflu? * Will this be like the deadly Spanish flu of 1918? * Why is there no bird flu vaccine? * Will the annual flu shot protect me? In his sensible and entertaining style, Siegel looks at the advances we've made in treatments, the research still to be done, and the challenges ahead for Asia to lay out a realistic plan for ending this global threat. While a bird flu outbreak in the United States may or may not happen this year, there's still a great deal of work to be done in readying America for outbreaks of any kind.