Bird flu, which is the lay term for the H5N1 variety of avian influenza, started in Hong Kong in 1997. Since then it has spread to China, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Laos, Russia, Indonesia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Romania, England, Croatia, Macedonia, Kuwait, and most recently to Turkey. The H5N1 virus has infected many species including ducks, chickens, turkeys, tree sparrows, peregrine falcons, great black-headed gulls, brown-headed gulls, gray herons, Canada geese, bar-headed geese, little egrets, pigs, clouded leopards, white tigers, mice, domestic cats, crows, magpies, peacocks, blue pheasants, rare eagles, turtledoves, swans, terns, and others. Human infections have occurred in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Indonesia, and now Turkey. Almost all human infections have occurred by humans ingesting blood or insufficiently cooked meat from birds infected with the virus, or being in close contact with sick birds—children playing with sick or dead birds for example. One recent case involved a person acquiring bird flu by coming into contact with a glove from a person culling (removing and killing) infected birds. There have been several instances where transmission of the H5N1 virus is thought to have occurred directly from human-to-human—parents taking care of their children who had the virus. Transmission of the H5N1 (bird-flu) virus to humans to this point has, therefore—in the vast majority of cases—involved ingestion of, or being in close contact with, infected birds. As the virus continues to spread, via migratory birds from country-to-country, it could come to North American and the United States via this mechanism as well. If that were the case, then American’s could well be exposed to the virus through ingestion of, or close contact with, infected birds. This mode of transmission could also take place once the pandemic begins. However, once the pandemic actually begins, by definition human-to-human transmission will be the primary mode of transmission. In other words, once the pandemic starts, those who become infected will most likely have gotten their infection from someone else—another human. And, given what we know about seasonal influenza and its transmission, it is most likely that children will be the biggest source of infection. Therefore, while we might have to worry about acquiring the virus from both wild and domestic birds, the much more important source of human infections will be each other. Once the global pandemic starts, it will come to the United States through travelers from other countries where the pandemic has already begun—unless the pandemic actually starts in the United States—which is possible but unlikely. Bradford Frank, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A. The Frank Group P.O. Box 138 Lakewood, NY 14750 800-488-2353 http://www.AvoidBirdFlu.com

Diane Jakubowski was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in spring of 2003,and her somewhat confused physician sent Jakubowski to the nearest health food market for answers. Celiac Disease, also known as Celiac Sprue, is a genetically-linked autoimmune disease in which the absorbing surface of the small intestine is damaged by gluten, the protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and sometimes even oats. But as recently as two years ago, this illness was considered very rare in this country, leaving many Celiacs misdiagnosed, under diagnosed, or simply overlooked altogether. Approximately 1 in 4700 people in the USA are diagnosed Celiacs. But recent medical research indicates that this figure is extraordinarily inaccurate. Suddenly, the long-accepted thinking that Celiac Disease was rare has literally exploded off of the medical horizon. It is now known that 1 in 133 folks in this country (or more) are probably Celiacs…again going undiagnosed…and suffering needlessly for many years. In Celiac Disease, nutrients pass through the damaged small intestine, unabsorbed, often creating a host of sometimes devastating health problems. Medical conditions and diseases that have been associated with Celiac Disease are: iron deficiency anemia, osteoporosis, gum problems, skin problems, Multiple Sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia, peripheral neuropathy, and infertility. Celiac Disease is frequently misdiagnosed as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, proctitis) pancreatitis, and even gall bladder disease, to name but a few. There are literally millions of Celiac’s running around in this country….who don’t even know they are Celiacs. And the really significant additional concern is that all these folks are simultaneously running the risk of developing secondary autoimmune disease. This, due to the fact that many Celiacs go undiagnosed an average of eleven years…or even longer. In the author’s case, it was 52 years. Jakubowski’s desire is that people will be able to gain answers through information that has been made available on her website. Her wish is that sharing this information may possibly provide a service for those who suffer from digestive disease for decades due to the direct or indirect impact of this insidious disease. Diane Jakubowski http://www.celiacdiseaseinfo.org

As mentioned in the name it is a chronic disease which affects the liver disabling it from its functions. Here the disease affects the normal cells in the liver which leads to scarring of the same. This condition leaves the liver with an abnormal and scarred liver tissue. The liver is the largest organ in our body with many functions. As the cells in the liver are injured or scarred an inflammation occurs which chokes the flow of blood through this organ. The liver has the function of producing proteins and enzymes. It also helps in fighting infections, cleaning blood, helps in digesting food and a storage for energy which can be used any time. It is a life-threatening disease which has taken many lives and left them with high and dry with heft hospital bills. The damage is caused by the toxins, metabolic problems, chronic viral hepatitis or any other causes. Some of the causes for having this disease is the excess consumption of alcohol or we can say abuse of alcohol, through chronic viral hepatitis (hepatitis B, C or D), autoimmune hepatitis which destructs the liver cells, drugs or toxins and infections, blockage of bile ducts which damages the liver tissue, through inheritance of diseases like hemochromatosis , Wilson’s disease, protoporphyria, so one should get proper check up done to diagnose as there has been cases where without the thorough check up it wont be detected. Some of the changes in your routine can make a lot of a difference to avoid such a deadly disease. Eat healthy, stay healthy, have a good health regime to ward off all the possibilities of such diseases. Avoid alcohol completely which mainly is the reason for being affected by such disease. Stay away from drugs and get a complete check up done on you to be on the safer side.