Bird flu was first identified in the early 1900’s and has since spread worldwide. Also known as avian influenza, this virus has caused considerable concern due to the mutation of a particular strain of the disease. Although this virus previously only infected birds and other types of animals, namely pigs, since 1997, it has also been known to infect humans.

The strain of the disease to cause so much concern is H5N1. These are simply numbers and letters that represent the subtype of this particular strain, 1 of 144 influenza subtypes. Not only has the virus caused an epidemic in poultry, but it has recently been feared to be leading to a pandemic, or worldwide epidemic, in humans.

While the virus was first identified in humans in 1997, it was not until 2004 that the spread became of great concern. At that time, a major outbreak occurred in Vietnam and Thailand, which spread to ten countries and regions of Asia within weeks and caused the death of 23 people. Within three months the outbreak was contained after the slaughter of tens of millions of potentially infected birds. However, the damage was already done and the virus had spread across Asia to lead to additional outbreaks. Since that time, H5N1 has spread throughout Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, and a low pathogenic form of the virus was identified in Canada on November 19, 2005. Currently, 131 humans have been infected with the virus, resulting in 68 deaths. However, it is feared this number will only increase with the ongoing spread of the disease.

The primary concern surrounding H5N1 is its mutation and ability to infect humans. As of yet, the virus has been spread from poultry to humans, and human to human transmission has only been suspected but not confirmed. Once the virus mutates further, it will easily be passed through humans, causing the disease to spread rapidly. Influenza pandemics, or worldwide epidemics, have caused a great number of deaths in the past, including the Spanish Flu which killed 50 million people in 1918. This is the ultimate concern with the mutation and spread of H5N1.

At this time, the primary cause of infection has been due to the consumption or handling of diseased poultry. Unfortunately, there have been a very few cases that were not easily explained, and therefore, human to human transmission was suspected. However, this has not been confirmed in any of the cases of H5N1 infection.

Sarah is an acclaimed writer on medical matters, and has written extensively on the subjects of Attention Deficit Disorder, Bird Flu and Crohn’s Disease.
For more of her articles, go to http://www.imedicalvillage.com now.

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As per the Associated Press, March 5, 2006, a bill has been sent to the governor of the State of Wisconsin that would allow health care providers to investigate medical errors, however, those investigative results would not be available to the public.

Hospitals argue that such a bill will enable them to vigorously investigate medical errors and get to the root cause without having to be concerned that their investigation will be used against them in a malpractice claim.

Conversely, plaintiff’s attorneys want to know just how long a particular situation has been in place and what, if anything, has the hospital done to correct the problem.

The new bill, which is supposedly being forwarded to the governor, was co-written by the Wisconsin Hospital Association and it applies not only to hospitals, but also to nursing homes and other health care providers.

“Allowing internal confidentiality is a key step in improving quality, said Anne-Marie Audet, a physician and vice president for quality at the Commonwealth Fund, which funds research on health policy.” “The only way you can fix problems is if you are able to identify them,” she said.

However, at least one trial attorney opines that the proposed legislation gives health care providers too much protection, and it keeps vital information from being presented to a jury.

The bill would still let people see their own medical records if they sued a hospital or doctor for malpractice. However, if there is a claim that the patient was harmed by medical malpractice, this law would prevent them from delving into the records of the providers to see if the malpractice was an ongoing problems, and the length of time it existed.

The Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services has criticized the bill, saying it could hinder the department’s ability to detect fraud and ensure patient safety. However, as per the article “Leo Brideau, chief executive of Columbia St. Mary’s health care system, said the privacy shield will encourage organizations to analyze adverse events so health care providers can learn and improve.” “That is very difficult to do if you are worrying that everything that you do is discoverable in courts,” Brideau said.

This appears to be another step in the curtaining of patients’ rights. From my own perspective, if I get a serious infection in a hospital, and I sue, I want the records of the hospital as to how many other people reports similar infections and what has been done, if anything, to stop the problem. This bill, if signed by the governor, would not let me gain access to those records - at least in Wisconsin.
REMEMBER - YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF YOUR LIFE, TAKE CHARGE TODAY!!!

Jim Hogan is a retired State trooper and is a practicing attorney. He is the president of My Medical CD, Ltd. (http://www.mymedicalcd.com) and has written a book about New York’s No-fault Automobile Insurance - the Doctor’s Guide to New York’s No Fault Insurance, published by CHSBA Publishing, 1992. He lectures on Insurance Law for the Suffolk Academy of Law, in Hauppauge, NY

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Did you know that spending long hours at your computer can put your health at serious risk?
Most people does not even consider that possibility, but it does.

Working at a desk is extremely hard on your body, and I would like to share this with you so maybe you can avoid some of the most common health risks.

One of the most common one is: LOWER BACK-PAIN

WHAT CAUSES LOWER BACK-PAIN?

Age does not really matter. No, reaching old age is not the only culprit why one might just be feeling the excruciating pangs of lower back pain.

Reports have it that 80% of adult women and men suffer from lower back pain; several elements can still cause this condition.

When the muscles that hold the lower back vertebra, the set of bones that constitute the spinal column, get strained lower back pain is the end result. These bones protect, support, and secure these muscles.

This muscle injury is aggravated by stress that a person with lower back pain does not give much attention to. The common symptoms of lower back pain include a discomfort felt on the lower area of the back, a bad posture, swelling and or bruising of the lower back.

A physician discovers this condition through the history of back damage and the location of the discomfort.

Treatment includes providing enough rest for the patient to avoid re-straining of the muscles, medications (analgesics and anti-spasms), massage, and lower back and abdominal muscle reconditioning through special exercises.

Nerve irritation is also one cause of lower back pain. Mechanical damage and diseases may upset the nerves of the lumbar spine.

These conditions include radiculopathy, a disease of the discs of the lower back, bony intrusion, and inflamed nerves caused by a viral infection, e.g., shingles. The pain may only concentrate on one area but may also spread to other spots, commonly on the buttocks or even at the back of the thighs.

When this pain has spread to those mentioned spots, it is referred to as sciatica. Sciatica usually comes from a ruptured disc (what connects the vertebrae) in the lower back.

This damage, aside from distressing injury, is a result of the inevitable wear and tear of a part of the disc called the outer ring.

Treatment of these types of damages may range from patient learning and medications to surgery.

Arthritis diseases that are of inflammatory kinds can also trouble the lumbar part. Reiter’s disease, inflammatory bowel arthritis and psoriatic arthritis are some of these types of arthritis.

They can lead to pain and a stiff lower back that is usually aggravated in the morning. Medications that decrease the inflammation are usually administered to patients suffering from lower back pain caused by these arthritis diseases.

Kidney problems may also be attributed to the presence of lower back pain. Urinalysis and x-rays may help diagnose this cause of lower back pain. Lumbar pain could also stem from pregnancy, ovary problems, and tumors.

Aside from those usual sources of lower back pain, doctors pinpoint Paget’s disease of the bone to also cause lumbar discomfort. It is a disease of an unknown cause in which bone formation happens abnormally. This results to weakened bone and deformity that eventually cause the pain.

Pelvis bleeding, bulging of the wall of the aorta (a blood vessel), spinal cartilage and or bone infection, are the other unusual reasons for the proliferation of lower back pain.

Treatment of lower back pain often includes physiotherapy and medicines. Physiotherapists are very important in strengthening the muscles around the back after treatment.

They aid sufferers do exercises that will promote the body’s healing process. They go hand in hand with the chiropractors that aid in the recuperative process of the patient without medication.

Other than that, acupuncture, massage, aromatherapy, steroid injections, reflexology and surgery are considered viable alternatives in dealing with lower back pain.

There are other risks as you sit in front of that computer but it would be to much to write about in this article, so if you would like to learn more about other risks such as:

Eye strain
RSI (Repetitive Stress Syndrome)
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Constant Head Aches
Dizziness
Breathing Problems
Difficulty Concentrating

You can learn all about this in the book: “The Painless PC”

Hege Crowton is establishing herself as an expert copywriter.
She is known for doing in-depth research before writing her articles.
Many of her articles are posted on http://www.ezinecrow.com
and she also does a lot of writing for http://www.CrowSites.com

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