YourVitalHealth.com

By Clark Hansen, N.M.D.

Has the media flown off the handle with Bird Flu Pandemic pandemonium? Yes, its true that a human pandemic is possible, but the only way you can get it right now would be to go to Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, or Vietnam and handle sick poultry. You should definitely choose another vacation spot this year, however, you do not need to panic.

BIRD FLU FACTS AND FIGURES

• 50% mortality rate in birds and humans
• Virtually all human cases believed to have come from direct contact with birds
• Scientists say it is difficult for current strain of H5N1 to pass from human to human
• Any future strain, caused by combination of bird flu and human flu, could lead to a pandemic in humans

What Causes Bird Flu?
Bird Flu is caused by a type A strain of the influenza virus known as the H5N1 virus. It was first discovered in Hong Kong in 1977. Since then more than 100 million birds have died due to the disease or been slaughtered to prevent it’s spread. However, since its discovery, only 121 humans have contracted the H5N1 virus, 64 have died. Experts point out that cross-infection to humans is still rare.

Can Bird Flu Infect Humans?
Before it can infect humans it has to mutate into a form that can be passed easily by humans. Nevertheless, this virus is alarming because it is spreading rapidly in spite of the attempts to eradicate it, it is mutating rather quickly and it kills 50% of the birds it infects. Scientists say that its not a matter of if, but when a human Bird Flu pandemic will occur. They predict that a Bird Flu pandemic could kill 20 to 50 million people worldwide.

How are Bird Flu Viruses Different from Human Flu Viruses?
There are 25 different subtypes of type A flu viruses. All subtypes of flu A viruses can be found in birds. They do not usually infect humans, even though we know they can do so. There are only three known subtypes of human flu viruses (H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2); it is likely that some genetic parts of current human flu A viruses came from birds originally. Flu A viruses are constantly changing, and they might adapt over time to infect and spread among humans.

What are the symptoms of Bird Flu in Humans?
Symptoms of bird flu in humans have ranged from typical flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches) to eye infections, pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases (such as acute respiratory distress), and other severe and life-threatening complications. The symptoms of bird flu may depend on which virus caused the infection.

How does Bird Flu Spread?
Infected birds shed flu virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Susceptible birds become infected when they have contact with contaminated excretions or surfaces that are contaminated with excretions. It is believed that most cases of bird flu infection in humans have resulted from contact with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces.

What is the Chance of Getting Bird Flu?
The risk from bird flu is generally low to most people because the viruses occur mainly among birds and do not usually infect humans. However, during an outbreak of bird flu among poultry (domesticated chicken, ducks, turkeys), there is a possible risk to people who have contact with infected birds or surfaces that have been contaminated with excretions from infected birds. The current outbreak of avian influenza A (H5N1) among poultry in Asia is an example of a bird flu outbreak that has caused human infections and deaths. In such situations, people should avoid contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces, and should be careful when handling and cooking poultry.

Is there a Vaccine for Bird Flu?
In September 2005, the U.S. government contracted with French vaccine maker Sanofi-Pasteur to stockpile $100 million worth of a new vaccine to be made from a strain of avian influenza taken from a Vietnamese patient in February 2004. The experimental vaccine hopes to protect against bird flu in humans. However, most experts agree that an effective human vaccine cannot be manufactured until the virus actually mutates into a strain that can be transmitted from human to human.

Should You Get a Rx for Tamiflu?
The H5N1 virus currently infecting birds in Asia that has caused human illness and death is resistant to Symmetrel (amantadine) and Flumadine (rimantadine), two antiviral drugs commonly used for influenza. Two other antiviral medications, Tamiflu (oseltamavir) and Relenza (zanamavir), appear to work to treat flu caused by the H5N1 virus, although clinical studies still need to be done to prove that they work.

Roche’s Tamiflu is the most effective known drug against Influenza Type A infections and the most frequently prescribed in America. It stops the virus from spreading, but must be taken within the first 48 hours of onset of symptoms. The US has stockpiled 2.3 million doses of Tamiflu, enough for just one percent of its population. It plans to buy up to 20 million doses over the next several years to eventually cover some 6.7% of the population. However, experts estimate that in order to stop the spread of the infection, the coverage will need to reach 20% of the population.

Tamiflu is generally well tolerated but can cause mild-to-moderate nausea or vomiting in one out of 10 people. Taking Tamiflu with food may reduce the potential for these side effects. Other less common side effects may include bronchitis, sleeplessness and vertigo.

Are There Natural Treatments for Bird Flu?
Dr. Hansen recommends taking Oscillococcinum® for the treatment of all forms of the flu, including Bird Flu, in addition to the herbal formula known as PhytoBiotic.

What is Oscillococcinum®?
Oscillococcinum® is the number one Over-The-Counter Flu medicine in France. Oscillococcinum is a 200c dilution of an autolysate of Barbary duck liver and heart. It was introduced in the 1930’s by Dr Joseph Roy, who believed that it contained a microbe that caused influenza. Dr. Roy’s theory has now been shown to have merit since birds have been shown to be a major reservoir of human influenza viruses.

The effectiveness of Oscillococcinum has now been confirmed by a several double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trials published in the Lancet, the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and others. Eighty percent of patients treated with Oscillococcinum reported a successful outcome (vs 38% of the placebo group). Full recovery from flu symptoms within 48 hours was 66% greater in the Oscillococcinum group than in the placebo group.

How is Oscillococcinum taken?
Oscillococcinum is a homeopathic medicine in tiny granules. It should be dissolved under the tongue. Dr. Hansen recommends that everyone take a preventive dose of Oscillococcinum at the beginning of the flu season every year. Dr. Hansen says, “Oscillococcinum is the most effective flu remedy ever discovered. I have found it to avert the flu dramatically within hours, if taken at the onset of the first symptoms of the flu, including the general malaise, body aches, chills and fever. Most patients only need to take one or two doses and the flu just seems to vanish.”

For active infections, Dr. Hansen tells his patients to take the following dosage: for adults and children over the age of 12, dissolve the entire contents of one tube under the tongue every 6 hours, up to 3 times per day for two days. For children 12 and under, take ½ the adult dose.

Is there a Natural Alternative to Tamiflu?
Rather than prescribing the drug Tamiflu, Dr. Hansen has formulated an herbal formula known as Phytobiotic. This unique herbal formula that contains the herb Elderberry, which works like Tamiflu to inhibit the enzyme neuraminidase, but without the side effects. Phytobiotic also contains Andrographis, Echinacea, Atragalus and Goldenseal, which make the formula effective against a broad spectrum of viruses, bacteria and fungal organisms, because you can’t always tell what is causing your symptoms.

What are the ingredients in Dr. Hansen’s Phtyobiotic Flu Remedy?

Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) has been proven in double blind clinical trials to be as effective as Tamiflu. In one trial 90% of the group taking Elderberry recovered completely from the fever, chills, body aches, and cough twice as fast (within 3 days rather than 6 or more days) as the group receiving the placebo.

Viruses can do no harm unless they can get inside human cells and reproduce themselves. Bioflavanoids found in the Elderberry are thought to coat the virus and inhibit the action of neuraminidase, which otherwise would break down the cell wall membrane, allowing the virus to get inside. For this reason, Elderberry, like Tamiflu, must be taken within the first 48 hours of onset of symptoms.

Elderberry extract has been found to be effective against eight different strains of influenza including the Beijing, Singapore, Hong Kong, Ann Arbor, Texas, Panama, Yamajata, and Shangdong viruses. In addition to its direct antiviral effects, Elderberry also enhances immunity by increasing the production of lymphocytes and acts as a potent antioxidant.

Andrographis paniculata is used in China as an official medicine for inflammation, colds, fevers, laryngitis and diarrhea. In a recent double blind placebo controlled study performed in Sweden, 85 mg taken three times daily for five days significantly reduced symptoms of the common cold and sinusitis, as well as time off work.

Echinacea angustifolia (Purple Coneflower) In spite of one recently reported, poorly designed study that used only one-third of the appropriate dose in the treatment protocol, Echinacea has been previously proven in multiple studies to contain a wide array of active immune stimulating components that enhance immunity against several viruses including influenza, Epstein-Barr virus & herpes virus. Echinacea has been shown to prevent colds, upper respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, and other infections.

Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus) has been shown to increase Macrophage phagocytosis (the engulfing or “eating” of solid material, e.g. bacteria, allergens, and immune complexes) within six hours of treatment and last for more than 72 hours. It has also been shown to increase Interleukin-2 activity ten fold, stimulate T-Cells in healthy animals and restores immune function in cancer patients.

Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) extract exhibits a broad spectrum of antibiotic activity. The berberine in Goldenseal appears to inhibit the adhesion of bacteria to host cells and prevent their growth. Berberine has been shown to be 3 times more effective at lowering fevers than aspirin in rats. It has shown activity against bacteria, protozoa, and fungi, including Staphylococcus, Streptomyces, Chlamydia, Corynebacterium diptheria, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typlhi, Vibrio cholerae, Diplococcus pneumoniae, Pseudomonas, Shigella dysenteriae, Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia, and Candida albicans.

How much Phytobiotic should be taken?
For prevention of Colds and Flus, Dr. Hansen recommends 1 Capsule twice daily for children and 2 Capsules twice daily for adults. For active symptoms or infections, Dr. Hansen recommends 2 Capsules 3 times daily for children and 3 Capsules 3 times daily for adults.

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