H5N1 is the virulent strain that causes avian influenza or bird flu. This strain is commonly present in the gut of the wild migratory birds but due to their natural resistance it does not have any effect on them. When wild and domestic stocks mix and the strain passes over to domestic poultry, it turns fatal. This has been clearly indicated by recent large scale outbreaks in China and other South East Asian countries.

Strong measures including quarantine and culling by health authorities did not stop the spread of the infection, which soon emerged in far away places like Africa and Europe. India was terribly hit by the outbreak and Central and State Government departments took emergency steps to contain its spread and provide relief to those poultry farmers who lost their entire stock in the process.

As all were concentrating on measures to contain the virus, news came of the H5N1 virus infecting some humans who were in the close proximity of the infected birds and were constantly exposed to their body secretions. It took a while for medical scientists to analyse the infection but once it was confirmed, another battle front needed immediate attention.

WHO (World Health Organisation) lead the global fight against H5N1 virus and world wide pharmaceutical companies started manufacturing anti flu drugs. Some of the most noted and effective drugs against bird flu are Amantadine, Relenza, Rimantadine, Tamiflu and Oseltamivir. These drugs when administered shortly after infection set in were successful to varying degrees in fighting the virus and its flu type symptoms.

In some severe cases of bird flu, respiratory track complications lead to fatalities. Health authorities were concerned about human to human infection. This was reported from some areas but it was also observed that the infection did not persist beyond the second host. If this had not been the case we would have been living through a worst nightmare of modern times.

It is natural to panic when such a virus strain spreads defying geographical limits. Some people started to hoard anti flu drugs fearing a major outbreak. Luckily it did not come about. Today the virus seems to have gone dormant once again. But this is the most critical period that we should utilise to strengthen our defenses and place into place contingency measures which will automatically kick-in in the case of the next major outbreak.

Poultry management techniques have since been reviewed and altered to include stringent health check-ups of domestic birds. A proactive approach is necessary to prevent another incident. Hopefully we will learn from past experience and provide for a safe future.

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