Prevention

The bird flu virus is quite easily transmitted but one needs to know that there are several ways in which one can prevent becoming infected. The severity of the disease varies with every individual and it depends on whether one has been previously exposed to the virus and whether one has been vaccinated against the infection. Here are some ways in which individuals can prevent catching the illness, some of them including medication and others simply caution.

Several types of H5n! vaccines have been developed along the time, each of them for a specific type of strain. However, it is said that the virus may mutate quite quickly and the utilization of a vaccine developed during an outbreak may be useless during another outbreak. These vaccines may however provide cross-protection against a specific strain but one should bear in mind that the most efficient will be the vaccine designed for that particular of strain, and another version could be less effective. The mutation from outbreak to outbreak makes it however difficult for the pharmaceutical industry to produce a vaccine in a certain outbreak and for a certain type of influenza A strain, although efforts are taken to encourage the industry to react quicker to such a need.

But one may also protect oneself if they are more cautions during the outbreaks. The most vulnerable individuals are those with a compromised immune system and the elderly so they should avoid the agglomerated areas as the main way to stay away from the virus. Also, people can prevent the transmission of the virus by using a handkerchief every time they sneeze or cough. One should not underestimate the need of washing their hands as often as they can, and before every meal. These are simple ways in which people can protect themselves and the ones close to them.