Avian Influenza News

As you know, the H5N1 virus was confirmed in Turkey and is the subject of much discussion these days. The fact remains that avian influenza with its potential for development into a virus transmitted person - person has been a concern to the WHO for some time in Asia. The appearance of the virus in some birds an area of Turkey has not changed that risk much and we cannot be sure when or perhaps if the virus will mutate to become one transmitted from person to person, which would then cause a pandemic, although the risk is thought to be high.
We should therefore focus our thinking on what measures can be taken to prepare and avoid this future potential risk.

You will also know that at present the risk is mainly for those in close contact with wild and domestic birds in affected regions and there is little risk to communities such as ours, although it is wise to take extra care in food preparation as suggested in my last newsletter (please note that you may wish to check that the icing on birthday cakes bought from outside is not made with raw egg white). We have also advised the children not to play with feathers in the woods as a precaution and you may wish to remind them of this.

At school, we are linking in with the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office policy on contingency planning which is similar to that of many organizations. The main aspects of most organisational plans include

• the use of seasonal influenza vaccine in order to avoid seasonal flu affecting immunity, to allow doctor’s to differentiate between seasonal and avian influenza if there was a human avian influenza pandemic and to help prevent mutation of viruses

• the stocking of antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu, which may be useful to treat or lower risks if there were to be a pandemic

• stocking of anti infection items such as masks/gloves etc

• reminding people of the proven benefits of measures to prevent infection such as hand washing, sneezing and coughing appropriately etc.

If your family is not under the umbrella of an organization with such a plan you may wish to consider the above points and discuss them with your health provider. The local authorities in Turkey are working in close cooperation with international organizations and taking appropriate measures.

Unfortunately, there is also a lot of inaccurate information so I suggest you check official government websites such as that given last week or consult with your own doctor if you have personal concerns.

Healthy Lunches

Thank you to the large number of parents paying such close attention to providing healthy lunches with plenty of fruit and vegetables. It is really heartening to see these nutritious items and it has a really positive influence on those who are more ’difficult eaters’.

Some news that may interest you is that some further recent studies seem to show more benefits of improving the amount of Omega 3 fats in the diet in terms of children’s behaviour and educational attainment. The studies used fish oil supplements.

Although it should be said that these are small studies and have not resulted in any official advice to use supplements it does serve to remind us of the importance of including oily fish in our diet which is known to have many health benefits. For any interested parents, it is well worth looking at the research. I have copied here in italics extracts from ‘The Guardian’ newspaper for your interest.

There are some tell-tale signs that can indicate an imbalance of Omega-3 fatty acids in the diet. Allergy-related conditions such as eczema, asthma and hayfever are more common, as are poor concentration, depression, excessive mood swings and undue anxiety. Others with imbalances can experience difficulty getting to sleep at night and visual disturbances when reading, such as words and letters moving around.

Fish oils seem to help because they are rich in a particular type of Omega-3 fatty acid called Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), which is vital for the proper chemical functioning of the brain, mediating hormones, the immune system and blood flow. Just how EPA might be helping struggling children is poorly understood though. "All we know is that if people take these capsules, their behaviour, learning and mood can sometimes improve quite dramatically," says Dr Alex Richardson, an Oxford University-based expert on the effect of food on behaviour and lead scientist on the Durham study. "But Omega 3 can affect many aspects of brain function, so these benefits could reflect more efficient chemical signalling, or just an increase in blood flow to the brain."

Thanks to processed foods, most modern diets are now woefully lacking in Omega-3 fatty acids and this may be where the problem lies. Oily fish and seafood are the only foods that contain ready-made EPA and while the body can make the compound from other Omega-3 fatty acids found in leafy vegetables, walnuts, brazil nuts and flax oil, it is an extremely inefficient process.
One difficulty is that to have a beneficial effect, high doses of EPA are required - children in the Durham study received 500mg of EPA a day, the equivalent of around 30g of pilchards. Try getting a child to eat fish every day and it will become clear why a supplement might be the answer.

But isn't this just a further step down the road towards a supplement-obsessed society? Richardson says not: "I'm not someone who says, 'Just pop a pill'. People should first make dietary changes and make them in a sensible direction. Get rid of the junk fat, and ensure they're eating whole foods."

How to choose the right fish oil

Picking the right supplement is crucial. The main thing to look for in a fish-oil supplement is that it contains a high dose of Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). But, as last week's Scottish salmon health scare proved, there are other factors to take into account too. "In the same way that our fish are now polluted with PCBs, dioxins, heavy metals and everything else because of the environment they swim in, so are many fish oil supplements," says Dr Alex Richardson.

It is important, then, to check that the oil has been purified. If it has, the manufacturer will be likely to boast about it on the packaging. For example, MorEPA is one such pharmaceutical-grade supplement, which costs less than half that of some high-street brands (available from smaller pharmacies, or online at www.healthyandessential.co.uk). It costs about £9 a month, as does eye q, the product used in the Child of Our Time experiment (available from Boots, or www.equazen.com).

Generally, oils made from fish bodies are preferable to those made from livers as the liver is the detox organ and so holds more toxins than any other. Cod liver oil is also best avoided as it is rich in vitamin A and taking large doses for an extended period could lead to vitamin A poisoning. Fresh fish oil should not give you fishy burps - if they do, the oil has been hanging around a while and the EPA may well have been oxidised.

The Guardian UK newspaper

Glynis Ozcan
School Nurse