Bird flu is a scary and devastating disease. It has been decades
since an influenza virus has had such misfortunate potential.
With the virus sweeping through most of Asia, Europe, and the
Middle East, it is just a matter of time before it reaches every
corner of the world. If the virus mutates, an even more deadly
issue will be at hand. With such negative predictions, it is
almost impossible not to imagine yourself or a love one at the
hands of the disease. What would you do if this virus hit home?
The important thing to understand is the infection of bird flu
is not necessarily a death sentence. Although a large number of
deaths have occurred, almost half of those infected survived the
disease. Therefore, with advanced medicine and proper care, a
person may be able to live after bird flu.
What you do if someone you know is diagnosed will greatly depend
on how well you know the person. Is it a friend? Acquaintance?
Family member? Obviously, if it is a close friend or family
member, you will want to be as supportive as possible. This will
be a difficult time for them and any assistance you can provide
will probably be greatly appreciated. On the other hand, if you
are only dealing with an acquaintance, you may feel relieved and
fortunate to have not suffered the same fate. While you may feel
guilt at this thought, you can consider it a wake up call to
bring the risk to your attention. You may also use this time to
lend a helping hand, although you do not feel emotionally
obligated to do so.
When someone you know becomes infected, you should also consider
the source of the infection and the severity of the threat
present. If a family member becomes ill while working on a
family farm, you may ascertain infected agricultural animals are
to blame and the threat must be alleviated. On the other hand,
if no apparent cause is known, human to human contact may be a
consideration. This is not only essential information for you to
know, but also health professionals in your area. Currently
human contact is not a transmission means; therefore, the onset
of such would be of great concern.
The important thing to remember is to be there for your loved
ones and feel blessed that you are available to help them as
opposed to sharing their fate. You will, of course, want to be
careful not to become infected during this time, if it can be
avoided.
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