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Name
Amaatullah
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Profession
Teacher
Question
Assalam aleykoum,
How should muslims be thinking about a possible pandemic? Are there ways we can prepare for this if it happens to be as devastating as the media is claiming it to be?
Jazak Allahu Khair
Answer
We can prepare for a possible pandemic by vaccination and we must be in good health.
If the immune system is in good shape it can hopefully overcome this virus and give us a better chance of recovery.
We can boost our immune system function by taking vitamin C, zinc and antioxidants. Also foods such as onion and garlic can be helpful.
The vaccination meant here is not for the H5N1 virus specifically, but for Human influenza which can be of help.
Name
Drako
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Profession
Question
Salaam,
This flu is going to be a wakeup call for many people. One can see it is clearly advancing over the earth. How to protect yourself...I honestly feel people in first world countries and people well off will be okay - get a vaccine, wear N100 face masks, and stay in their rich homes with the doors locked. My concern is the poor and the people the government may not look out for. What about them?
Answer
They must boost their immune system, like mentioned previously even if they can not take vaccinations.
Name
Abdullah
-
Profession
Goat Hearder
Question
Peace be upon you and thanks for your time today brother,
I gather this avian influenza has been identified as the most likely source of a future pandemic? I hear about in the news all the time. Half a million die of the flu every year and there have been a few epidemics and pandemics in the last hundred years - since the dawn of mankind I assume. My question is can we protect ourselves, or everyone? I wonder because there is a high mutability of the virus as you know and influenza by nature is an extremely variable disease. When speaking of this Avian Influenza, isn't it difficult to design a vaccine for the virus until it has recombined into a human adapted form? I don't believe it has yet and I'm wondering if we are prepared? The present anti-viral drug Tamiflu can reduce the effects of the virus, but will it prevent millions of deaths? Anyway, thanks for your help and please advise us with any suggestions you may have to give us an advantage.
Answer
Influenza virus (whether human or other) is highly mutable, thus the vaccine must be changed every year.
However, the countries that prepare the vaccine are ready to prepare a vaccine for humans against this disease. But they will not mass-produce it unless there is a dire need, such as a severe outbreak.
Tamiflu is used for both prevention and treatment for all influenza types not only H5N1. So it can be used even during infection, because it reduces severity and duration of the illness.
However, it is not prescribed for persons under 18 according to the FDA.
Name
Manal
-
Profession
Question
Thank you for your time dr. I would like to know if people in Egypt or the middle east in general are in any danger of the H5N1 virus?
What are the possibilities of it becoming an epidemic in the middle east region?
Answer
In the middle east in general we have taken precautions. For example, in Egypt the goverenment has prevented shooting of migratory birds which are reservoirs for all types of avian influenza.
By preventing shooting of the migratory birds, we prevent close contact with the domestic poultry and vulnerable humans, thus reducing incidence of infection.
By the way, we are on constant surveillence by taking random samples (swabs) from both humans and poultry to detect the virus in order to be on top alert. Till now, the only strains of influenza found in humans in the region are from human influenza strains H1 and H3 and B which are not pathogenic viruses and are the usual circulating strains; unlike the H5.
So hopefully we are trying our best to keep a controlled environment.
Name
Justin
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Profession
Teacher
Question
Asalaamu Alaikum.
Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: I asked the Messenger of Allah (SWT) about pestilence and he said, "It is a punishment which Allah sends upon whomsoever He wills, but Allah has made it as a mercy to the believers. Anyone who remains in a town which is plagued with pestilence maintaining patience expecting reward from Allah, and knowing that nothing will befall him other than what Allah has foreordained for him, he would receive a reward of Shaheed."
It is best for one and his/her family to remain where there is an outbreak of a disease?
Jazak Allahu khair.
Answer
Assalmu alaikum brother,
When you are in a region with a disease outbreak, you should not leave the place in order not to spread the disease further.
One of the main reasons Asia has been able to control the avian flu virus is because they quarantined all the infected farms and culled all the birds as well as sterilized the location.
Of course, with humans we must hospitalize and treat them immediately.
Name
Chris
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Profession
Question
I would like to know how effective the antiviral Tamiflu really is? Does it help prevent infection or is it only used for treatment?
If it is used for prevention how do we take it? Do we keep on taking it until the threat is over or is there a certain time period?
Answer
Tamiflu should not be taken unless there is a serious threat like a pandemic.
Tamiflu is used for both prevention and treatment for all influenza types not only H5N1. So it can be used even during infection, because it reduces severity and duration of illness.
Name
Lily
-
Profession
Question
Can you please tell me what the symptoms are of avian flu in both animals and humans and what is the percentage of recovery?
thanks.
Answer
All subtypes of avian influenza are found in water fowl and migratory birds, they show no symptoms or may present mild symptoms. For domestic birds the H5 is fatal.
The symptoms: the number of eggs decrease, the feathers become abnormal. Also, the number of deaths of domestic birds, once a farm is infected, is great which is a very important indicator.
As for humans, the symptoms are similar to regular influenza symptoms except that there are more complications including difficulty in breathing which may lead to pneomonia and death.
However, there has been around a 50% recovery from this virus, but patients must be hospitalized and treated well.
Name
Mosa
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Profession
Question
I read on the WHO website that they are trying to help countries become prepared to reduce the risk of a pandemic outbreak. What do countries have to do for this to happen?
Is killing poultry enough? And what can be done about the migrating birds?
Answer
Actually, culling birds is a very effective method of control.
There is also a global influenza program by the WHO which countries are trying to implement. The recommendations include continuous surveillence of the situation, public health intervention, vaccinations and anti-viral medication as well as refraining from shooting migratory birds, as mentioned before.
Name
hilal
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Profession
student
Question
what is avian flu??? and how dangerous is it? and what are necessary precautions that we should take?
is it likely to affect UNITED STATES?
Answer
The United States is probably taking very serious measures to prevent any outbreaks.
The USA also has one of the WHO callibrating centers, which gathers all the isolated strains of influenza (human)from international influenza centers and carries out research on them in order to determine the vaccine that will be used for the next winter season.
