Monday, January 28, 2008
Is Paris Hilton Hits the Lesbian Club??
Quickly becoming the party girl she swore she’d never be again, Paris Hilton was spotted amidst a dizzying night of social affairs last night in West Hollywood.
She was wearing a cute short-sleeved plaid dress complete with a trendy fedora.
How is avian influenza detected in humans?
Avian influenza cannot be diagnosed by symptoms alone, so a laboratory test is required.swab collect from the nose or throat during the first few days of illness and then sent to a laboratory for molecular test for virus dectation If it is late in the illness, it may be difficult to find an avian influenza virus directly using these methods.If this is the case, it may still be possible to diagnose avian influenza by looking for evidence of the body's response to the virus.however This is not always an option because it requires two blood specimens (one taken during the first few days of illness and another taken some weeks later).
Sunday, January 27, 2008
How humans get bird flu?
Migratory waterfowl, and ducks in particular, carry the viruses that cause bird flu. Often unaffected themselves, the host birds spread the infection to susceptible species, especially domesticated chickens, turkeys and geese, resulting in severe epidemics that sicken and kill large numbers of birds - sometimes in a single day.
Avian viruses generally don't affect humans, but in 1997, an outbreak of bird flu in Hong Kong infected 18 people, six of whom died. Since then, human cases of bird flu have been reported in Asia, Africa, the Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. Most were traced to contact with infected poultry or surfaces contaminated by sick birds.
Often, flu viruses that cross from animals to humans originate in areas where people live in proximity to chickens and pigs. That's because pigs are susceptible to infection with both avian and human viruses and so are an ideal "mixing bowl" in which viruses can exchange genes.
But at least some bird flu viruses don't need a third party. Instead, they shuffle and rearrange their genetic material directly in humans. That seems to be the case in most instances of human-acquired bird flu. People become sick after direct contact with infected birds or bird-contaminated surfaces, not from contact with pigs or other animals.
Avian viruses generally don't affect humans, but in 1997, an outbreak of bird flu in Hong Kong infected 18 people, six of whom died. Since then, human cases of bird flu have been reported in Asia, Africa, the Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. Most were traced to contact with infected poultry or surfaces contaminated by sick birds.
Often, flu viruses that cross from animals to humans originate in areas where people live in proximity to chickens and pigs. That's because pigs are susceptible to infection with both avian and human viruses and so are an ideal "mixing bowl" in which viruses can exchange genes.
But at least some bird flu viruses don't need a third party. Instead, they shuffle and rearrange their genetic material directly in humans. That seems to be the case in most instances of human-acquired bird flu. People become sick after direct contact with infected birds or bird-contaminated surfaces, not from contact with pigs or other animals.
H5N1: Prelude to a pandemic?
In the current epidemic, two influenza subtypes have proved especially dangerous - H7N7, which sickened poultry workers in the Netherlands, and H5N1, which has been responsible for the majority of human and avian deaths in Asia. Of these, H5N1 is of particular concern for several reasons:
Direct transmission. H5N1 became the first known bird flu strain to jump directly from birds to people when it surfaced in Hong Kong in 1997. It has since infected people in many countries. Other strains have caused illness in humans, but none is as severe as H5N1.
Virulence. The virus is especially lethal, killing close to 100 percent of susceptible birds and more than half of infected people. Birds that do survive can shed the virus for at least 10 days, greatly increasing the flu's spread.
Rapid spread. Since 2003, hundreds of millions of birds have died, a loss that's ecologically and economically devastating. It's also alarming from a public health standpoint - widespread infections among birds may lead to more human disease
Direct transmission. H5N1 became the first known bird flu strain to jump directly from birds to people when it surfaced in Hong Kong in 1997. It has since infected people in many countries. Other strains have caused illness in humans, but none is as severe as H5N1.
Virulence. The virus is especially lethal, killing close to 100 percent of susceptible birds and more than half of infected people. Birds that do survive can shed the virus for at least 10 days, greatly increasing the flu's spread.
Rapid spread. Since 2003, hundreds of millions of birds have died, a loss that's ecologically and economically devastating. It's also alarming from a public health standpoint - widespread infections among birds may lead to more human disease
how transmitted the bird flu.
Direct bird-to-human transmission works like this:
Wild birds shed the virus. Infected migratory waterfowl, the natural carriers of bird flu viruses, shed the virus in their droppings, saliva and nasal secretions.
The virus spreads to domesticated birds. Domestic poultry become infected from contact with these birds or with contaminated water, feed or soil. They may also catch the disease the same way humans contract conventional flu - by inhaling the airborne virus. Bird flu spreads quickly and lethally within domestic flocks and is inadvertently transported from farm to farm on tractors and other equipment, on cages, and on workers' shoes and clothing. Heat destroys the virus, but it can survive for extended periods in cool temperatures
Markets provide pathways to humans. Open-air markets, where eggs and birds are often sold in crowded and unsanitary conditions, are hotbeds of infection and spread the disease into the wider community. Cockfighting, common throughout much of Asia, has also been implicated in the spread of bird flu because fighting roosters are often trucked long distances and smuggled across borders. At any point along the way, humans may pick up the virus through close contact with sick birds or contaminated surfaces.
Wild birds shed the virus. Infected migratory waterfowl, the natural carriers of bird flu viruses, shed the virus in their droppings, saliva and nasal secretions.
The virus spreads to domesticated birds. Domestic poultry become infected from contact with these birds or with contaminated water, feed or soil. They may also catch the disease the same way humans contract conventional flu - by inhaling the airborne virus. Bird flu spreads quickly and lethally within domestic flocks and is inadvertently transported from farm to farm on tractors and other equipment, on cages, and on workers' shoes and clothing. Heat destroys the virus, but it can survive for extended periods in cool temperatures
Markets provide pathways to humans. Open-air markets, where eggs and birds are often sold in crowded and unsanitary conditions, are hotbeds of infection and spread the disease into the wider community. Cockfighting, common throughout much of Asia, has also been implicated in the spread of bird flu because fighting roosters are often trucked long distances and smuggled across borders. At any point along the way, humans may pick up the virus through close contact with sick birds or contaminated surfaces.
Casuative agent of Bird flu (avian influenza).
All influenza viruses are divided into three types - A, B or C - depending on the virus' structure.
Type A is responsible for lethal influenza pandemics, whereas
Type B causes smaller, localized outbreaks.
Both types A and B are also responsible for the seasonal flu that affects many people every year. Less common and more stable than other strains, type C has milder symptoms.
Influenza B and C are usually found only in humans. But type A influenza infects both people and animals, including birds, pigs, horses, whales and seals.
Numerous influenza A subtypes exist, and they can combine to form even more subtypes, some of which normally are specific to a single species. At least 15 flu subtypes affect birds, the most virulent of which is H5N1. Until recently, avian subtypes have rarely been found in humans or in animals other than pigs.
Type A influenza viruses are further divided into strains, which are constantly evolving. And it is exactly this - the ability of influenza viruses to change their genetic makeup and to swap genes indiscriminately - that makes them so unpredictable and potentially deadly.
Type A is responsible for lethal influenza pandemics, whereas
Type B causes smaller, localized outbreaks.
Both types A and B are also responsible for the seasonal flu that affects many people every year. Less common and more stable than other strains, type C has milder symptoms.
Influenza B and C are usually found only in humans. But type A influenza infects both people and animals, including birds, pigs, horses, whales and seals.
Numerous influenza A subtypes exist, and they can combine to form even more subtypes, some of which normally are specific to a single species. At least 15 flu subtypes affect birds, the most virulent of which is H5N1. Until recently, avian subtypes have rarely been found in humans or in animals other than pigs.
Type A influenza viruses are further divided into strains, which are constantly evolving. And it is exactly this - the ability of influenza viruses to change their genetic makeup and to swap genes indiscriminately - that makes them so unpredictable and potentially deadly.
What is the bird flu?
Bird flu (also known as avian influenza) has led to the deaths of hundreds of millions of wild and domestic birds and to a small number of human deaths. Right now, however, bird flu remains difficult for humans to contract. Most people who have developed symptoms have had close contact with sick birds, though in a few cases, bird flu has passed from one person to another.
Health officials are concerned that a major bird flu outbreak could occur in humans if the virus mutates into a form that can spread more easily from person to person. protect people in the event of a bird flu pandemic.The grimmest scenario would be a global outbreak to rival the flu pandemic of 1918 and 1919, which claimed millions of lives worldwide. For now, researchers are trying to develop a vaccine that would
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
I am pregnant admits Nicole Kidman.
Hollywood Oscar-winning actress NICOLE KIDMAN and husband KEITH URBAN are expecting their first child together, according to a British newspaper. The Daily Mail reports The Golden Compass star and her husband of 18 months revealed the news to their families at Christmas (07). The 40-year-old Australian star has already spoken of "winding down" her filmmaking activities as much as possible next year (08), and has also expressed her desire to start a family with country singer Urban. If reports are correct, the baby, whose expected arrival date has not yet been revealed, will be Kidman's first natural child. She adopted Isabella, 14, and Conor, 12, during her first marriage to Tom Cruise, which ended in divorce in 2001.
Nicole said-"I just want to spend as much time as possible with my husband,” Earlier this month the actress also dismissed the idea of returning to the stage next year.
“It wouldn’t fit in with the logistics and dynamics of my family”, she said - a remark given extra meaning by the news of her pregnancy.
British actress Kate Winslet will replace the pregnant Nicole Kidman in the upcoming romantic drama "The Reader,"
Monday, January 7, 2008
Nicole Confirms Pregnancy!
Nicole Kidman finally confirmed on Monday that she is sperminated.This is the first biological child for both Kidman and husband earlier Nicole has two adopted kids