Birds avian influenza virus

The present invention generally relates to colloidal silver, and more particularly to a composition of colloidal silver and a method for using said composition as an agent against organisms harmful to the health of humans—in particular avian influenza virus ( bird flu ). 

Avian influenza H5N1 is an infectious disease of birds. It can cause two distinct forms of disease one is mild while the other is deadly. The virus is thought to be spread by migratory birds. Animals, especially farm poultry/animals, that lie under the migratory paths of the birds can become infected. To date, culling is the most effective means of controlling the spread of avian influenza in domestic poultry/animals. 

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antiviral properties of the inventive silver colloids (10 ppm and 32 ppm) against Influenza A (HINT) virus or Avian Influenza A (H3N2) virus ( bird flu ) when exposed (in suspension) for a specified exposure period(s). The protocol used is a modification of the Standard Test Method for Efficacy of Virucidal Agents Intended for Special Applications (ASTM E1052). 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2006a). Avian influenza Current situation. Retrieved March 27, 2007 from http //www.cdc.gOv/flu/avian/outbreaks/current.htm animals Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2006b). Key facts about avian influenza (bird flu) and avian influenza A (H5N1) virus. Retrieved March 27, 2007 from http //www.cdc. gov/flu/avian/gen-info/facts.htm Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2006c). Key facts about pandemic influenza. Retrieved March 27, 2007 from http //www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic/keyfacts.htm Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2006d). Multistate outbreak of mumps—United States, January 1-May 2, 2006. Morbidity Mortality Weekly Report. Retrieved March 27, 2007 from http //www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ mm5520a4.htm... 

In addition, occasional pandemic outbreaks are a fatal threat About 50 mUhon people died in the pandemic outbreak of 1918 (56), further pandemics occurred in 1957 and 1968. High mutation rates of the influenza virus and the occurrence of new influenza strains are major obstacles in fighting influenza. Therefore, a serious threat is caused by avian influenza strains (57). Avian influenza is now common in Southeast Asia and is spreading fast. Infected birds have been found in Europe and Africa. Avian influenza barely infects humans until now and it only transmits from birds to humans, if humans have very close contact to infected birds. However, in contrast to human influenza, the death rate for humans infected with avian influenza is exceptionally high. A new influenza strain might arise from recombination of human and avian or mutation of avian influenza strains alone that is as lethal as avian and as infectious as human influenza (58-60). 

Binding of influenza viruses to the human cell surface is mediated by the hemagglutinin (HA) proteins. The attachment initiates the uptake of the virus particle into the host cell. Influenza HAs bind to carbohydrates bearing sialic acids (A-acetylneuraminic acid). The human influenza virus HA proteins preferentially bind to a2-6-linked sialic acids (Fig. 8A) that are found in the upper respiratory tract of humans. In contrast, avian HA proteins preferentially bind to a2-3-hnked sialic acid (Fig. 8B) (61-63). Glycans of this type occur in the respiratory tract and intestine of birds. This way, species specificity of the influenza strains is generated and a barrier exists for avian strains infecting humans, as the sialic acid with an a2-3 linkage is rare on the cell surface of human epithelial cells in the readily accessible upper respiratory tract (61,64). 

Influenza A viruses are important human and animal pathogens. Their primary natural hosts are aquatic birds from which they are occasionally transmitted to other species. In man they cause outbreaks of respiratory disease that occur as annual epidemics and less frequent pandemics. Influenza B viruses are also believed to be descendants of avian influenza A viruses, but are now largely restricted to humans where they cause respiratory infections as well. Influenza A and B viruses have two envelope glycoproteins, the hemagglutinin (HA) and the neuraminidase (NA), both of which interact with sialic acid. 

Current worries center on two recent influenza outbreaks. The first, discovered in 1997, is commonly called bird flu the second, found in early 2009, is swine flu. Bird flu is caused by the transfer to humans of an avian H5N1 virus that has killed tens of millions of birds, primarily in Southeast Asia. Human infection by this virus was first noted in Hong Kong in 1997, and by mid 2009, 413 cases with 256 deaths had been confirmed in 16 countries. The virus is transmitted primarily from poultry to humans rather than between humans as of 2009, but the H5N1 strain is highly pathogenic, mutates rapidly, and is able to acquire genes from viruses that infect other animal... 

Avian influenza normally only infects birds, and occasionally pigs. Migratory birds have been noted to spread the H5N1 virus directly in its highly pathogenic form. Although rare, there is a risk of viral transmission from poultry to humans. 

AVIAN FLU. Avian flu, also called bird flu, refers to viral influenza primarily affecting birds. Some human deaths have been attributed to exposure to avian flu virus. These deaths appear to have occurred mainly in cases where individuals have lived or worked in proximity to poultry. Its spread in recent years has led to concern that a highly infectious strain, such as the H5N1 strain, could combine with the common cold virus and result in a human pandemic. One reason for the small number of human deaths is the apparent fact that most strains of avian flu virus are unable to penetrate beyond the upper respiratory tract of humans. The spread of avian flu has highlighted the vulnerability of humans to disease outbreaks, whether from natural causes or deliberate releases. See also SMALLPOX. 

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