Avian flu kills in much the same way the global flu pandemic of 1918 did, by drowning victims in fluid produced in their own lungs, a new study has found. The study also suggests that immediate treatment with antiviral drugs is crucial, because the virus reproduces so quickly that, if not suppressed within the first 48 hours, it tends to push victims into a rapid decline to death.

”The paradigm ‘hit hard and hit early’ probably is very true for H5N1 bird flu influenza,” said Dr Menno D de Jong, an Oxford University virologist and the study’s lead author. However, he added, because the body’s own immune response does part of the damage, doctors should consider giving anti-inflammatory drugs along with antivirals like Tamiflu.

Bird Flu Protection and Bird Flu Prevention from BlogTopper.com expert J. Rinard.
Source: Bangkok Post

Tags: bird flu protection, bird fluprevention