The problem of influenza and, in particular, the bird species recently is widely revealed in the press, and in the opinion of some, it simply became the subject of speculation whether on the pharmaceutical, or on the poultry markets - on the first receipt of profit, on the second - ruining...
In discussion, the head of the Department of Infectious Diseases of the Crimean Medical University. WITH.AND. Georgievsky Associate Professor P.WITH. Arshinov and Head of the Department of Microbiology, Virology and Immunology Professor.L, Krivorutchenko. We bring to your attention their opinions.
Influenza viruses
New Human influenza viruses that can cause a pandemic - this is the result of mutations and recombination. In the case of viruses, most mutants die because they are lost, and do not acquire something useful. However, some mutations just allow the influenza virus to stay in the human population or other owners. But recombination is an auction of a genetic material that has already existed earlier in the ancestral vessels of the virus. After infecting the same cell of the host, the genes from one progenial strain are mixed with the genes of another, forming offspring with the signs of both source viruses. It turns out a hybrid individual: individual genetic blocks do not undergo changes, but the unusual combination of these blocks creates a new product.
It is the recombination that is considered the main tool for the origin of new strains. When the changes occur quickly, as a result, something unprecedented earlier appears - including the most dangerous pandemic variants of the influenza virus. Recombinations make the population immunity of humanity, which is adapted, to the previously existing strains, completely insolvent. Biological «kitchen» On the creation of such a virus, the killer is mainly located in Southeast Asia, but emissions and other regions of the world are gradually occurring - for example, and Russia, where flashes of influenza in poultry have already been registered.
Bird flu virus
It is well known that poultry sick with a much higher level of legend than wild, which is considered a natural natural influenza virus tank. As a rule, viruses are transmitted with feces. In places of mass nesting, the virus can be found in water in high concentrations. For the Crimea it is very relevant. Ornithologists call our peninsula - «Bird Station», «nodal station» In the migration of birds, besides on the Sivansha and Swan Islands, Pernaya Winter.
In Crimea, as in general, in the Black Sea region, strains from Asia can get along with birds. Judging by the non-very systematic reports, in the Black Sea countries recorded variants of the virus, similar to those in Asia caused the mass death of animals and people, with hemagglutinin H5, H7 and H9.
The virus appeared in countries that are close to Ukraine: in Romania; There were reports of Turkey, however, then an objection followed from Turkey. In any case, in Russia, this virus appeared, and animals are sick.
The problem is that in many countries there are still no generally accepted test systems that would allow register whether these strains of the virus that were discovered in Asia. Until now, the final comparative analysis is not made, much is not clear. And may not be clear until the mass death of birds begins, with infection from these birds of pigs and other mammals.
Flu virus pigs
The peculiarity of pigs is that many of their immune responses and other physiological characteristics are very similar to human - more similar than other animals. Initially, the virus, including influenza, is easier to adapt to pigs than to a person. Pigs - an intermediate stage, on which the virus comes to its transformation to a state when such an option may appear, which can be distributed in the human population (that is, from person to person). Such a way to adapt through pigs, in the opinion of American and English scientists who spent a retrospective genetic analysis, passed a virus that caused the famous «Spanish». So the story may repeat... The only difference is that knowledge of this infection, about the nature of the virus and generally the approaches to the prevention of influenza have now changed significantly. People expect an epidemic, more consciously preparing to resist her...
And you really have something to be afraid!
Pandemic and flu epidemic
According to the recognition of the majority of scientists, the pandemic will still have. The only question is when it is: this year or next, or in a few years?.. And most importantly: what will be mortality for people? Forecasts, as it seems to me, a few hypertrophies: Americans, for example, believe that if a pandemic arises, hundreds of thousands of people will die in the US. Such forecasts rely on the results of previous epidemics and to some extent, the population and power of states are intended to alert; This also contains political and commercial risk.
Naturally, when issues such as a global epidemic arise, the political interests of different countries and big money related to the production of vaccines and their procurement on national scales, income of firms that produce diagnostic system and therapeutic drugs.
Ukraine, like any other state, will not be able to self-induce, therefore, as a scientist, theoretics, I can say: if the whole world sick with the whole flu, the epidemic will happen in Ukraine too. If a specific vaccine is not developed, it is definitely most people get sick. There are no vaccines against bird flu today, in return, some experts offer to use vaccines against influenza virus options circulating people earlier. There is logic in it; Recombinant strains have part of the genes of the progenitors, including human (and close to them) in this way, the vaccine against the human virus with hemagglutinin H1 theoretically partially protects, but from? Hardly from the fact of infection - but the level of mortality and severe complications can be reduced.
Prevention of bird flu
About meat. Meat chickens can be eaten, but it needs to be managed or fry. The influenza virus almost instantly dies at a temperature of 100 degrees and above, but persists during freezing.
Conventional means of prevention and treatment of flu and related symptoms may be useful. But Pavel Spiridonovich Arshinov will tell about this - the head of the Department of Infectious Diseases of the Crimean Medical University. WITH.AND. Georgievsky, associate professor.
Prevention of influenza
Influenza - acute infectious disease and its prevention requires us special attention.
Humanity with flu is constantly facing more than 1000 years. According to academician in.M. Zhdanov, during this period, humanity survived about 500 epidemics and at least 13 flu pandemic caused mainly by the type A virus, which is not only able to change its antigens constantly, but also replacing them. At the same time, it possesses the species: as a rule, the bird virus cannot affect a pig or a person, and vice versa. Because of the low resistance in the environment, the virus is transmitted by air-droplet and transplascentary, providing a teratogenic effect.
It is important to carry out the prevention of influenza among those age categories that are most strongly subject to. Especially often the incidence is observed in children under 5 years and people over 65. The influenza mortality rate ranges from 0.01 to 0.2 percent during the epidemic period, during the pandemic period it increases significantly. In 1918-1919, the influenza died, according to various sources, from 20 to 40-50 million. Human. Considering that in Ukraine in 2003, 1 million sick. 143 thousand people, and in 2004 - approximately 2 million. Man, - In 2005-2006, another epidemic is expected to circulate new viruses such as - «California» H3N2, to which the type flu can join «IN» - «Shanghai».
In addition to human flu in the world, there are other types of influenza virus A, which are particularly often affected by birds (H.7n7, h7n2, h5n1 and others.), and since December 2003, there were diseases of persons in contact infection, with various clinical manifestations: from the lungs - in the Netherlands to heavy - with the death of 62-67 people - in the region where about 2.5 billion lives. People (Southeast Asia). People get sick with direct contact with reliably sick birds. Transmission of bird flu infection from person noted to man was noted. Thus, avian influenza is a serious veterinary, and not a medical problem.
There are two theory of influenza variability. One of them focuses on the recombination of influenza viruses, and the other is based on the recycled appearance of the virus in the human population. This question is not yet sufficiently studied.
The main method of influenza prevention are annual vaccinations. Vaccines are designed, and their composition varies depending on the antigenic composition of the proposed strain of influenza A, which may cause an epidemic or a pandemic.
Of all the vaccines, given even a small probability of bird flu in the structure of people's diseases, more suitable cleaved vaccines (split-vaccines) fluorix and Vaxigipp, which, unlike subunit (influenza), include not 2 antigen, but 6 Antigens (2 external and 4 internal), which allows the immune system of a person to create faster and more intense immunity, which to some extent may matter to create cross-immunity to avian influenza - in case of its possible appearance.
The prophylaxis of influenza split vaccines must be carried out in November-early December, in order to start the rise of the incidence of the ARS (end of December-January), the majority of the population has formed immunity. According to French doctors, cleaved vaccines 2.6 times reduced the incidence of ORVs other etiology.
Physic treatment
Which of the treatment of influenza? - Amantadine and Remantadine, Osseltamivir. It should be noted that the sensitivity of influenza and recently decreased, and it is prohibited to use for the treatment of children under 14, as it is capable of creating changes in the central nervous system. Arbidol appeared on sale, which is used to treat flu in a dose of 400 mg / day in 2 receptions for 3-5 days, and for prevention - 200 mg / day with an interval of 3-4 days, the duration of the course - 3-4 weeks. Arbidol reduces the risk of incidence of influenza and an ARSZ 2.6-3.2 times, shortens the duration of the disease for 2-2.5 days and reduces the frequency of postgrippose complications by 2 times. Other interferon inductors can be used, as well as - Vitamin complexes, abundant drink and t.D. (And all this - on the recommendation of the doctor). Antibiotics for influenza should be used very carefully, paying attention to age: children - only with 6 months, adult patients - after 65 years.
Harding procedures are recommended for strengthening immunity, compliance with ordinary sanitary and hygienic standards, mandatory airwalks. Try to avoid stress, eat normally. Vitamins, including vitamin C, eat, but carefully - a short course and small doses (there is a view of the specialists that surplus vitamins can be more harmful than their little drawback). With flu, in no case do not drink alcohol in «Medical» For purposes: flu is not a cold, but an infectious viral disease. Try to limit participation in events with a great accumulation of people - one of them can be infected and not to know about it (as signs have not yet been manifested), and therefore be a carrier of the disease. Constantly included air conditioning also does not contribute to health - it is better to double the room more often. Limit travel in public transport - if possible, at least part of the way to work (study) and from work, go on foot. At the very first signs of the disease, discontinue contact with others, call the doctor, observe the bed mode.
Take care of your health!
