viruses & avian bird flu

Water Borne Viruses

Size Ranges from 0.02-0.09 microns

Common Water Borne Strains:

Hepatitis
Rotavirus
Reovirus
Adenovirus (UV resistant)
Coxsakievirus
Calicivirus (eg. Norwalk)
Poliovirus

About Viruses

They are the smallest agents of disease, and perhaps the most problematic. While consisting of no more than DNA inside a protein coat, they can quickly take over host cells and turn them into prodigious factories for reproduction. By one calculation, a single gram of typical human faeces contained one billion viruses.

Historically, few cases of waterborne disease have been attributed to viruses, largely because of limitations in diagnosis. However, according to Timothy Ford of the Harvard School of Public Health, advances in identifying viral agents has significantly increased the number of cases of enteric disease that are determined to be of viral etiology. A number of authors now suggest that Norwalk virus and Norwalk-like viruses are the major causes of both food and waterborne illnesses worldwide, including 6.5 million annual cases of waterborne viral disease in the United States alone.

Hepatitis A, rotaviruses and enteroviruses are some of the most prevalent viral pathogens and have shown resistance to normal chlorination. Echovirus and poliovirus are also transmitted by drinking water. Since there is limited treatment for viral infections, waterborne viruses are particularly dangerous, especially among immuno-compromised populations.

Removal

The above viruses can easily be removed from using a Homespring water filter, with out the need for chemicals or power. The homespring has been tested on the above viruses and is certified to remove them. There is little else on the market that can offer this guarantee.

We are Steve Reynolds and Greg Morgan and we fix your water problems.

For more information on the best whole house removal of Viruses see here
For more information on single tap (eg in kitchen) removal of Viruses see here

How do Viruses get in my water tank?

Viruses live in the intestine of infected animals. Millions of germs can be released in a bowel movement from an infected animal.

Most homes in New Zealand have birds and occasionally possums getting on your house roof. These animals poo all over your roof, it then rains and washes the poo into your tank. There can be millions of viruses in a single poo from 1 bird or possum. If the conditions are right in you tank then you will have these viruses living in your tank and potentially coming from every tap in your home.

Here is the question

"would you get on your roof and lick off the bird and possum poo?"

no I didn't think so, now if you haven't got any water filtration why are you prepared to drink it?

Whole House virus removal.

Single tap virus removal.

Should I have my tank water tested?

Tests used to specifically identify Viruses are often expensive and difficult,.we recommend you consider generally testing your tank for faecal contamination by testing it for the presence of coliforms or E. coli instead of Giardia . Although tests for faecal coliforms or E. coli do not specifically tell you whether Viruses are present, these tests will show whether your tank water has been contaminated by faecal matter.

Water testing for e-coli and faecal coliforms

"Total peace of mind" that's what's important to most of our clients and to help achieve this we can conduct onsite water testing for e-coli and faecal bacteria in water tanks. Take the worry out of your tank water and know what it contains!

For a water test:-

What is Bird flu or Avian Influenza?

Bird flu or Avian Influenza, is a contagious disease of animals caused by viruses that normally infect only birds and, less commonly, pigs. While all bird species are thought to be susceptible to infection, domestic poultry flocks are especially vulnerable to infections that can rapidly reach epidemic proportions.

Protection from Bird Flu

There are no technologies on the market that can make claims to remove or kill bird flu from your drinking water. The main reason is no one has enough of the virus to conduct thorough testing to prove it can remove it. Killing this virus has proved difficult to date.

We can offer you a whole house option which we know removes other viruses but has not been tested on Avian Influenza virus. This would be the safest filter on the market that we would recommend even though it hasn't been tested. There is no other simple technology available. For information on this see here

bird flu virus

Avian influenza in birds

Avian influenza is an infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. These influenza viruses occur naturally among birds. Wild birds worldwide carry the viruses in their intestines, but usually do not get sick from them. However, avian influenza is very contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill them.

Infected birds shed influenza virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, and faeces. Susceptible birds become infected when they have contact with contaminated secretions or excretions or with surfaces that are contaminated with secretions or excretions from infected birds. Domesticated birds may become infected with avian influenza virus through direct contact with infected waterfowl or other infected poultry, or through contact with surfaces (such as dirt or cages) or materials (such as water or feed) that have been contaminated with the virus.

Infection with avian influenza viruses in domestic poultry causes two main forms of disease that are distinguished by low and high extremes of virulence. The “low pathogenic” form may go undetected and usually causes only mild symptoms (such as ruffled feathers and a drop in egg production). However, the highly pathogenic form spreads more rapidly through flocks of poultry. This form may cause disease that affects multiple internal organs and has a mortality rate that can reach 90-100% often within 48 hours.

Historically, few cases of waterborne disease have been attributed to viruses, largely because of limitations in diagnosis. However, according to Timothy Ford of the Harvard School of Public Health, advances in identifying viral agents has significantly increased the number of cases of enteric disease that are determined to be of viral etiology. A number of authors now suggest that Norwalk virus and Norwalk-like viruses are the major causes of both food and waterborne illnesses worldwide, including 6.5 million annual cases of waterborne viral disease in the United States alone.

Human infection with avian influenza viruses

Usually, "avian influenza virus" refers to influenza A viruses found chiefly in birds, but infections with these viruses can occur in humans. The risk from avian influenza is generally low to most people, because the viruses do not usually infect humans. However, confirmed cases of human infection from several subtypes of avian influenza infection have been reported since 1997. Most cases of avian influenza infection in humans have resulted from contact with infected poultry (e.g., domesticated chicken, ducks, and turkeys) or surfaces contaminated with secretion/excretions from infected birds. The spread of avian influenza viruses from one ill person to another has been reported very rarely, and has been limited, inefficient and unsustained.

Symptoms of avian influenza in humans have ranged from typical human influenza-like symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches) to eye infections, pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases (such as acute respiratory distress), and other severe and life-threatening complications. The symptoms of avian influenza may depend on which virus caused the infection.

Central China's Hunan Province, bury dead chickens "killed by bird flu" in a drill Wednesday November 2, 2005 to test their emergency response ability. A bird flu outbreak was reported in the province's Xiangtan city last month. It was immediately brought under control.