by Singgih Dirga

Created on: November 07, 2009   Last Updated: November 08, 2009

Handling of bird flu can be done with medication or giving flu drugs like Tamiflu or other types, but must remain under the supervision of a doctor or the hospital's Medical .

Type of drug prevention of bird flu infection is 2, the first is a drug such as amantadine and rimantadine are ion channel (M2) blockers, which block the ion channel activity of influenza virus type A and type B that is not the flow of hydrogen ions can be blocked and the virus can not reproduce .

Too bad that the first type of drug that can trigger levels of viral resistance to the drug substance, so that in the days to 5 to 7 after the consumption of drugs, 16-35% of the virus resistant because of mutations in the M2 protein of the virus. Therefore, this type of drug is not sold freely in any pharmacy, even with the prescribing physician, because it was feared drug delivery errors can lead to the emergence of new viruses are more virulent and resistant to this drug.

The second type of drug is Neurimidase (NA) inhibitors, zanamivir and types such as Oseltamivir, with its NA protein that functions off a virus that replicates in the cell, so the virus can not get out of the cell. This virus will be attached to the cell surface only and not be moved to another cell. The second type of drug is not causing viruses resistant to the body such as the type of ion channel blockers.

Until now researchers have been trying hard to create vaccines that can anticipate a pandemic H5N1 virus, but because the virus mutates so it always feels the creation of an effective vaccine can not be strong enough against the H5N1 strain that is felt although it can be effective to anticipate new types will appear .

Although the new types of vaccine research is encouraged, the WHO said that clinical trials must first type virus is still being done as an essential step to cope with a pandemic that might occur.

Even so, it would be better if people take reasonable precautions and take some action right in anticipation of bird flu. No need to panic and excess, only need to consider the following points:

1. Use protection (masks, swimming goggles, gloves) each associated with its material from the gastrointestinal tract of poultry

2. Every thing that comes from such poultry gastrointestinal secretions should be planted / burned so as not to spread to the surrounding environment

3. Wash equipment used in livestock with disinfectants

4. Secretion of poultry cages and should not be removed from the location of the farm

5. Cooking chicken properly at a temperature of 80 degrees in 1 minute and clean the chicken and the egg is heated at a temperature of 64 degrees for 5 minutes.

6. Maintain a healthy environment and ourselves

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