Posted on 11/11/2005 4:29:40 PM PST by blam
Bird flu may over-stimulate immune system
HONG KONG, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Researchers in Hong Kong say the H5N1 bird flu virus may provoke an excessive immune reaction, explaining why it is deadly even to the young and healthy.
Laboratory tests on human cells showed that the virus caused the immune system to send proteins called cytokines to infected lung cells, a reaction that would end up damaging or destroying the tissues the immune system is meant to defend.
The tests were carried out by scientists at the University of Hong Kong, working with samples from patients who died in Vietnam. The results were published in the online medical journal Respiratory Research.
The research suggested that patients who contract bird flu may need drugs that suppress the immune response in addition to anti-viral drugs like Tamiflu. It also indicated that healthy people with strong immune systems could fare worse than others if they became infected.
The virus has killed flocks of poultry and migratory birds, particularly in Asia, in recent months, but only 124 people have been infected, through direct contact with birds. Sixty-four of them have died.
The new research may affect preparations by health officials worldwide, who fear a pandemic may occur if the virus mutates to become passed from human to human.
Copyright 2005 by United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
The N95 masks are rated to stop 95% of the particles .3 microns or larger. Most virus is .15 micron or smaller.
Dang it! Now, what am I gonna do with all the sauerkraut? Wouldn't it still help to keep me from getting the flu?
Actually, that is a really good question. I have the same question about Elderberry / Sambucol, especially since I bought a lot of it recently.
Would the proper approach be to use Sauerkraut or Sambucol as a prophylactice, while you are still healthy, then immediately stop if Avian symptoms appeared?? Or, it that a bit too risky???
I think I'll use mine up until I hear about the first case of human - human transmission of H5N1...then quit using it. I expect it's still good against the 'standard' A-type flu?
They are having good results with Remicade with these disorders. I wonder if they could try that? I think the drug completley wipes out T cells if I remember rightly. Very expensive at present.
A_R
I read somewhere that H5N1 has killed 50% (approx) of those who had to be hospitalized. Does anyone know if they've gotten a better handle on the death rates for everyone who contracts H5N1? (IOW, how many people have contracted H5N1 without having bad enough symptoms to send them to the hospital?)
Every mild case that doesn't make it into the statistics lowers the mortality rate from the 50% figure, but how many such cases are there?
Thanks, I'd not heard of that.
I wonder how an otherwise healthy senior with an over active immune system (allergies) would fare with this virus? I mentioned to an anaesthetist once as I was going into surgery that I had lots of allergies and he looked at my chart and said "you probably will never have cancer". Has anyone else ever heard this?
I also have an overactive immune system, and just recently was diagnosed with RA. My doctor told me the same thing, so maybe it's a truism that allergies have a protective effect against some malignancies. It WOULD be nice to have some benefit from an otherwise miserable set of reactions.
I do think, since I carry an epipen in case of life-threatening reaction, that I will probably not survive, if I get Avian Flu. I take the elderberry tonic to lower the amount of viable virus. There is some research to indicate that lower virus exposure indicates how the person will fare--in other words, get a small dose of virus from passing a stranger in a crowd, get a milder case. Get a large dose say from a spouse or child, get a serious case.
This virus' action in humans may have been studied in the far east very thoroughly, but we here in the west have a lot of unanswered questions.
No one knows how many mild cases there have been, because there has been no screening research published, to my knowledge.
During the SARS epidemic, cytokine storm was one of the life-threatening complications. Prednisone was tried, but did not improve survival rates, if I recall correctly. Also, it has been tried with H5N1 in some fatal cases in the far east as well.
Again, we're all working in the dark because we haven't had access to much published information about H5N1 human cases. I HAVE read of others who came to the same conclusion you did, though.
My personal plan is to use elderberry tonic as a prophylactic, then double it if I get any symptoms, and add turmeric. Again, the thinking of some (including me) is that the elderberry reduces the replication of the virus in the body -- thus reducing the cytokine reaction. Some disagree, and as far as I know, there is no general concensus.
As far as I know, people have developed fatal cases of TB while taking Remicade. I don't plan to...rather stick with the devil (allergic and auto-immune problems) that I know...
Thank you for your reply. I felt sure that would be the answer to my Avian Flu question.
I don't know what RA is, could you enlighten me?
Rheumatoid arthritis. I'm 57, was diagnosed last year.
I am 65 and other than gallbladder removal (non emergency) and carpal tunnel surgery, I have never had anything other than allergies. I feel blessed. I believe The Lord will take us when he is ready and not a moment before.
Up until I got this RA, I've been remarkably healthy, don't normally get the flu, but Hub and I both did last year. I got well in just a few days, he got pneumonia.
He has a fair set of allergies, too, and only had surgery once, for an accidental injury to his shoulder. Last year's flu was the first time I recall him being sick.
We have not had the flu in years, not since we started getting the flu shots. Years ago, we caught it from our kids when they were in school, every year, sometimes more than once. Not fun.
I don't get the shots, I'm allergic to egg-based vaccinations.
Hub got the shot, for the wrong flu. Doc thinks we had A-Fujiian, which if I remember right, wasn't in the shot.
Everything I have heard says it's a very good idea. Hub is getting it this year.
Thanks! ;9)
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