Agriculture
Some worry about virus mutating, causing pandemic
By Evan BelangerAs the state gears up to face a what some are claiming will be a plague of epic proportions, experts and media professionals seem to be pointing to avian flu as the most likely culprit for the world's next pandemic.
This is because a particular strain of the virus known as H5N1 seems to be extremely deadly and extremely pathogenic in birds.
According to the Center for Disease Control, avian flu occurs naturally in the intestines of birds, but usually does not make them sick. H5N1 on the other hand affects multiple organ systems in the birds, achieving mortality rates in flocks of 90 to 100 percent.
While the CDC reports that the risk of infection in humans is low, confirmed cases of the virus in humans have been found as far back as 1997. The infection usually results from having "direct or close contact" with infected birds or their excretions.
Since humans have not historically been exposed to the illness, they have few immunities to deal with infection, thus more than half of those infected died, according to the CDC.
These numbers may be exaggerated since it is possible that only the most severely ill people are being reported.
To date, the disease has not been observed spreading from human to human, nor has it been documented to spread from eating cooked bird products.
If H5N1 were to adapt in a way that it could spread from human to human, the CDC reports that a pandemic would likely result.
Some scientists fear that a person infected with a human form of influenza will come in contact with an avian version. They say the result could be a mutated form that spreads easily between humans and for which they have no immunities.
In the 20th century, there have been three outbreaks classified as pandemics.
The first, the Spanish Flu of 1918 resulted when soldiers returning from World War I carried the disease home as hostilities ended.
In the U.S. the disease killed approximately 500,000 people.
In 1957, according to the CDC, the Asian Flu pandemic began, killing about 69,800 people in the U.S.
The last pandemic occurred in 1968 with the Hong Kong Flu. While it made a resurgence in the early '70s, the disease was fairly mild in comparison compared to previous pandemics. In the U.S. 33,800 people died between September 1968 and March 1969, according to the CDC.
- Agriculture
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Festhall finale
By David Lazenby
davidl@cullmantimes.com
It’s last call for the Festhalle.
The first season of the Festhalle Market Platz comes to an end Saturday.
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Festhall finale
By David Lazenby
davidl@cullmantimes.com
It’s last call for the Festhalle.
The first season of the Festhalle Market Platz comes to an end Saturday.
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Utterly amazed
By David Lazenby
davidl@cullmantimes.com
A barnyard, cotton field and antiquated kitchen substituted for classrooms Wednesday as East Elementary School second graders got a hands-on history lesson.
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Cold Springs FFA repeat at fair
By Niamh Bailes
news@cullmantimes.com
Cold Springs High School’s Future Farmers of America club won the Cullman County Fair’s Herdsman Award in September but they are not resting yet. On Thursday, they are going for another win at the Alabama National Fair in Montgomery.
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Plumping up Pumpkins
By Niamh Bailes
news@cullmantimes.com
Whether for roasted seeds, sweet pies or Halloween lanterns, the fall season is not so colorful without the versatile pumpkin. There are as many varieties of pumpkin as uses for the fruit, but they all require similar conditions to grow.
“A lot of people have the idea that pumpkins are drought resistant,” said Arnold Caylor, director of the Experiment Station in Cullman, “but that’s not the case. As people have found this year, pumpkins need a lot of water.”
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Students come home winners at livestock Expo
Cullman County students won big at this year’s Alabama Junior Livestock Exposition, taking 27 slots in the winner’s circle, more than any other county.
- Farmers well represented at state event
- Some worry about virus mutating, causing pandemic
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Many things can affect size of pecan harvest
Poor soils and too much or too little water can adversely affect pecan production.
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Avian flu no threat to United States
Alabama Department of Agriculture veterinarian Brad Fields said American's fears of avian flu, more commonly known as bird flu, are largely unfounded.
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Festhall finale
