Bird Flu Center

Once confronted with the powerful disease, the biggest issue for medical staff everywhere is bird flu treatment. Although there is no confirmed 100% effective method to treat avian influenza, recommendations and flu drugs exist that can aid in both the prevention and curing of the infection.

As with all flues, the basic medical advice in the case of suspicions or confirmations of a bird flu infection is plenty of rest and drinking lots of liquids. Antiviral medication may help in relieving some of the symptoms, but antibiotics (e.g. penicillin) are not effective.
There are some classic generic flu drugs, such as Amantadine and Rimantadine, that appear useless in the treatment of bird flu, as the virus seems to be resistant to them. However there is work in progress to new medication which might prove more effective (Tamiflu and Relenza have shown some positive results).

Independent work is also under way in different parts of the world on studying and finding a treatment for the bird flu. An institute in San Diego, working as a non-profit organization, has recorded significant progress into developing a solution for this. Using a specific M2 protein contained in the virus the scientists have been able to produce antibodies which could effectively fight off the virus. Also, they are attempting to create an orally or nasally administrated influenza vaccine. This would prove an immense help for the way third world countries treat bird flu, as it would eliminate the need for expensive or specialized medical equipment and staff.

Some scientists suggest treatment with massive doses of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid or ascorbate) might be effective in the case of bird flu infections, however there is no clear confirmation of this and recognized medical institutions such as the World Health Organization have not given indications they will follow up on the results of such experiments.

As news bulletins announce the spread of the illness to other parts of the world, the need for an efficient bird flu treatment rises. Although there is only so much that science can do to keep up with the development of the virus, the race is on and it is agreed it is only a matter of time before efficient avian influenza vaccines are ready for use.