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As bird flu maintained its relentless march across the globe spreading the deadly H5N1 virus strains it has of late become the latest scare factor to have hit the world. Though the bird flu strain spread across the borders are attributed to factors primarily like the migratory birds who are the likely carriers of the virus, the poultry birds are the easy victims to be infected with flu virus through contaminated saliva, nasal secretions and faeces. So far, human cases have been blamed on direct contact with infected chickens and their droppings.

A latest study on the bird flu virus has found the reason why bird flu doesn't spread easily in humans. The research says that, the virus prefers to infect cells in the lungs instead of areas like the nose and the windpipe, so its not easily coughed or sneezed out into the air. On a global statistics, more than 180 people are known to have been infected with the virus strain H5N1 and they all have been virtually believed to have caught it from infected poultry. But scientists have long warned that the virus, which is prone to mutation, could transform into a version that is spread easily from person to person. Unlike normal seasonal influenza, where infection causes only mild respiratory symptoms in most people, the disease caused by H5N1 follows an unusually aggressive clinical course, with rapid deterioration and high fatality.

The World Health Organization recommends rapid elimination of the H5N1 virus among infected birds and other animals to help prevent further spread of the virus and reduce opportunities for human infection. This is done by culling infected birds and vaccinating poultry around the infested area to create a buffer zone which is essential in preventing a major outbreak. Till date there are no drugs which can claim for sure shot cure to bird flu in human cases. But, the World Health Organization (WHO) has mentioned Tamiflu as the drug for tackling bird flu if ever a human pandemic breaks out.

The FDA has approved Tamiflu (generic Oseltamivir phosphate) belonging to a class of drugs called neuraminidase inhibitors for the treatment of bird flu. When the flu virus enters the host cells with the help of the protein and multiplies, Tamiflu inhibits this protein preventing the virus from spreading by destroying the virus at its source. It can help prevent flu in case you have been exposed to people infected with flu. An older generic flu drug, the M2 inhibitors Amantadine could potentially be used against pandemic influenza. But some currently circulating H5N1 strains are fully resistant to these the M2 inhibitors. However, should a new virus emerge through re-assortment, the M2 inhibitors might be effective.

The international effort to prevent the spread of bird flu is multifaceted, focusing on the health of both birds and humans. It is necessary for the human community to rise for safeguarding the causes behind the outbreak of bird flu.