09 November 2005
Doc debunks terrorist link to bird flu virus
ENVIRONMENTAL changes, not a terrorist evil design, probably caused the evolution of the deadly avian flu virus that now stalks countries throughout the world.
This was the medical assessment of Dr. Jesus Canto, chief of the Region 1 Medical Center here who dismissed insinuations that the avian flu might have been spread by terrorists.
Canto said he does not believe so and said the H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus must have evolved naturally due to the now constantly changing environment, where viruses are constantly adapting and therefore mutating.
Canto explained that through mutation, a harmless virus can become a monster, just like the present N5N1 strain of avian flu virus that is currently threatening to cause a pandemic all over the world.
The Philippines is now among the very few Asian countries that has not registered cases of avian flu although nearby countries, such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and China already have it.
Canto explained that migratory birds may be carrying the avian flu virus but the latter is not actually harmful to human beings unless it comes in contact with the local human influenza virus.
Migratory birds, among them herons and egrets, land in droves in shallow fishponds in various parts of Pangasinan this time of the year to forage for food. People have been warned to stay away from the birds.
Calling on the people to exert all efforts to stay healthy in the midst of the avian flu threat, Canto said symptoms of the disease are like those of the ordinary flu but in addition, the avian flu patient experiences difficulty of breathing.
He said in bacterial inspection caused by ordinary flu, one can hear the crackles in the patient’s chest through the stethoscope but not when he or she is afflicted with the avian flu.
Saying that cure for avian flu is now available but expensive, Canto said if the disease finally comes to our shores, the people must maintain a healthy lifestyle in order to increase bodily resistance.
He called on the people to avoid crowds, stay at home, take bed rest, drink lots of fruit juices and eat plenty of green leafy vegetables.
Canto claimed that the Department of Health is now more prepared to meet the threat of the disease than when the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) hit the country three years ago.
This was the medical assessment of Dr. Jesus Canto, chief of the Region 1 Medical Center here who dismissed insinuations that the avian flu might have been spread by terrorists.
Canto said he does not believe so and said the H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus must have evolved naturally due to the now constantly changing environment, where viruses are constantly adapting and therefore mutating.
Canto explained that through mutation, a harmless virus can become a monster, just like the present N5N1 strain of avian flu virus that is currently threatening to cause a pandemic all over the world.
The Philippines is now among the very few Asian countries that has not registered cases of avian flu although nearby countries, such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and China already have it.
Canto explained that migratory birds may be carrying the avian flu virus but the latter is not actually harmful to human beings unless it comes in contact with the local human influenza virus.
Migratory birds, among them herons and egrets, land in droves in shallow fishponds in various parts of Pangasinan this time of the year to forage for food. People have been warned to stay away from the birds.
Calling on the people to exert all efforts to stay healthy in the midst of the avian flu threat, Canto said symptoms of the disease are like those of the ordinary flu but in addition, the avian flu patient experiences difficulty of breathing.
He said in bacterial inspection caused by ordinary flu, one can hear the crackles in the patient’s chest through the stethoscope but not when he or she is afflicted with the avian flu.
Saying that cure for avian flu is now available but expensive, Canto said if the disease finally comes to our shores, the people must maintain a healthy lifestyle in order to increase bodily resistance.
He called on the people to avoid crowds, stay at home, take bed rest, drink lots of fruit juices and eat plenty of green leafy vegetables.
Canto claimed that the Department of Health is now more prepared to meet the threat of the disease than when the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) hit the country three years ago.
