A bird in the hand not always worth two in the bush
In this case, it would appear that for researchers who are working on a vaccine for the bird flu, two in the bush is what they now think they'll have to settle for. A recent study found that the flu vaccine can provide protection even when mutation has occurred in the flu virus.
The researchers found that FluZone vaccine was 77 percent effective and FluMist was 57 percent effective in cases where the strain of flu in circulation was not the same as what was selected for use in a vaccine.
The implication of this for the feared bird flu pandemic is that something is better than nothing. In particular, in the case of a vaccine to prevent bird flu, it is feared that not only will there not be a perfect match, there would only be enough to inoculate half of the people who would need it.
Now some experts suggest that instead of stockpiling enough vaccine for breakout, it would be better to start inoculating people now. And because bird flu would be unique, it would require a double dose of flu vaccine -- just as with children, who have never been exposed to the regular flu, initially receive two doses. The researchers in this study think it would be wise to be inoculated with the first shot of whatever is available. That way, you have a base from which to build when a vaccine that is a closer match is developed.
This is a tough call. Right now the H5N1 bird flu strain, when it infects humans, sits deep in the lungs, so human-to-human transmission is difficult. However, mutation to a new strain that is more easily transmitted is possible and just what everyone fears. Could this strategy of vaccinating everyone now, as described above, work? Possibly. The spectre of hundreds of thousands - even millions - being stricken by a difficult to treat and lethal flu virus is terrifying indeed and certainly lowers the threshold for getting vaccinated, especially if you have tolerated it well in the past. One problem with this approach is that there simply isn't enough vaccine to go around. I recommend that, armed with this information, you discuss it with your doctor and work it out on an individual basis.
In the meantime, there are still things you can do to reduce your risk of falling ill, including staying healthy, washing your hands frequently (15 seconds with soap and water) especially after likely exposure such as handling food and touching your nose or mouth, covering your mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough, wearing gloves and an N95 face mask when caring for someone with the flu, keeping common surfaces such as door knobs, phones, computer keyboards and countertops clean with disinfectant wipes of just good old white vinegar, avoiding raw or undercooked chicken and eggs, avoiding contact with birds or bird-related stuff (like droppings) in areas where bird flu is present and perhaps most important of all, stay informed by paying attention to the news and health advisories. (www.pandemicflu.gov is the official U.S. government web site on the subject).
When it comes to drug treatment, neither Tamiflu nor its first cousin Relenza appear to work specifically on the H5N1 strain. Furthermore, due to the complex manufacturing process involved, there cannot be enough of either of these to treat everybody. Interestingly, a formulation of black elderberry called Sambucol, actually a great treatment for the common flu, has been found to be effective against the H5N1 bird flu strain. It has not, however, been tested widely in humans. Also, there is no way to tell if it is likely to work against a mutated strain. However, a very reasonable strategy would be to stockpile at least a few bottles of this remedy, widely available from Nature's Way.
In the meantime, I'll keep you posted about new developments in this area as they occur.
