Purdue researchers wage long battle against bird flu
Student scientists and CDC researchers have been working for seven years on a vaccine that protects humans.
They’ve tested it in mice and found that it can neutralize two strains of the disease. Next, they plan to test it on mutated forms of the virus, said Suresh Mittal, a Purdue University professor and one of the project’s researchers.
“The concern is that since the virus is spreading, it is mutating, and if the virus can begin to spread (from person to person) it may cause an influenza pandemic,” Mittal said.
Avian influenza is an infection caused by influenza viruses that naturally occurs among birds. Its symptoms in humans can range from a fever, sore throat and cough to eye infections, pneumonia or severe respiratory diseases.
Overall, 381 human cases of avian influenza have been confirmed in 14 countries, mostly in Asia, with some in Africa and Turkey. Of those, 240 resulted in death.
Bird Flu Symptoms
Fever:
One of the first symptoms of bird flu in humans is a fever higher than 100 °F, that is 38 °C.
Cough:
Cough similar to regular flu symptoms. Coughing patients emit droplets laden with virus, and for this reason, a protective face mask is recommended for both patients and caretakers. A surgical mask is sufficient for patients, while caretakers should wear a face mask that is N95 certified or better.
Diarrhea and Abdominal Pain:
Diarrhea and abdominal pain has been a symptom in some patients, but not all of them. Watery diarrhea may be a symptom in bird flu cases, but is not a common symptom in regular flu. Diarrhea comes before respiratory symptoms. Two young patients had encephalitis and diarrhea without any respiratory symptoms.
Bleeding of nose and gums:
A symptom reported in some patients.
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