Another Day, Another Plague: The H5N1 Bird Flu

An exotic form of influenza, scientifically identified as H5N1 Bird Flu, is currently spreading westward throughout Eurasia, contaminating over 70% of Russia and China.

Currently moving towards Eastern Europe, the deadly outbreak is highly dangerous to humans and other animals. A massive epidemic in the Russian city of Chelyabinsk is responsible for the death of 500 birds just in the past 24 hours. This is the same strain of flu that has contaminated livestock in many parts of Asia during the past three weeks, killing dozens of people and millions of poultry.

The bird flu was first reported in Russia’s Novosibirsk Region in July. In three weeks, it has spread over neighboring cities Tyumen, Omsk, and Kurgan, as well as Kazakhstan and Mongolia. Initial reports said that the disease was caused by the strain of the virus potentially dangerous to humans but no one has been diagnosed with the disease in Russia, yet.


Questions to ask yourself and others:

1) Where did this disease come from?
2) What does H5N1 stand for?
3) How is it spreading so rapidly?
4) How can it be stopped?