International Health Partnership

Posts Tagged ‘isolated viruses’

What is avian influenza and how people can protect against this disease?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) the UN or avian influenza is an infectious disease that affects birds and is caused by type A strains of influenza virus. This disease, which was first identified in Italy more than 100 years ago, occurs worldwide.

It is believed that all birds are susceptible to such infection, although certain species are more resistant than others. Infected birds may show different symptoms, from mild flu to a highly contagious disease and fulminant course resulting in severe epidemics.

The latter is known as “highly pathogenic avian influenza. This form is characterized by sudden onset, severe illness and rapid death, with a mortality that can approach 100%.

Migratory waterfowl – especially wild ducks – are the natural reservoir of avian influenza viruses, also being the most resistant to infection. The domestic poultry, including chickens and turkeys, are particularly vulnerable to epidemics of rapidly fatal influenza.

The direct or indirect contact of domestic flocks with wild migratory waterfowl has been mentioned as a frequent cause of such epidemics. Live bird markets have also played an important role in the spread of epidemics.

Why is the avian flu virus H5N1 is so dangerous? Read the rest of this entry »

You can search for bacteria or fungi in many organs. The most frequent charges are made in the throat and urine. The search for germs and antibiotic susceptibility testing are not performed routinely, but only if infection is severe or repeated, or if you suspect an outbreak with a particular germ.

The throat swab

The throat swab is a review of current practice for the isolation of germs, especially in children, in cases of angina, to search for the streptococcus that can cause heart or kidney complications. However, some doctors would go and deal systematically as angina.

The urethral

The urethral (named after the excretory duct of the urine, urethra) must be the morning after the first void. It is useful if you suspect a sexually transmitted disease, to isolate the causative agent of urethral infection.

In women, gynecology is the sampling done by the doctor before the gynecological examination.