Flag of the United States

Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and American Samoa may eventually become states as well. Such a subtype could cause a global pandemic similar to the Spanish Flu that killed up to 50 million people in 1918. Other insular areas such as the U.S. If a human infected with influenzavirus also acquires H5N1, a mutant strain of bird flu that can be transmitted from human to human could form. There are ongoing statehood movements in Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and New York City. It is feared that if a strain of avian influenza virus to which humans have not been previously exposed undergoes antigenic shift to the point where it can cross the species barrier from birds to humans, the new subtype created could be both highly contagious and highly lethal in humans. The United States Army's Institute of Heraldry has plans for flags with up to 56 stars using a similar staggered star arrangement in case additional states accede. Avian influenzavirus H5 and H7 strains are found in both "low pathogenic” or “high pathogenic” forms; influenza H9 virus has been identified only in a “low pathogenic” form.

(For alternate versions, see this page at Flags of the World.)
. In addition, avian influenza viruses may fall into one of 2 pathotypes: low (LPAI) and high (HPAI) pathogenicity, based on their virulence in poultry populations. In the following table depicting the 27 designs of the United States flag, the star patterns for each flag are merely the usual patterns, with the exception of the 48-, 49-, and 50-star flags, as there was no official arrangement of the stars until the proclamation of the 48-star flag by President William Howard Taft in 1912. There are 16 H types, each with up to 9 N subtypes, yielding a potential for 144 different H and N combinations. By the same reports, this arrangement was rejected due to similarity to the British flag. Influenzavirus type A is subdivided into subtypes based on hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N) protein spikes from the central virus core. He reportedly originally wanted the stars arranged in four bands, one vertical, one horizontal, and two diagonal. All avian influenza (AI) viruses are type A influenza virus in the virus family of Orthomyxoviridae and all known strains of influenza A virus infect birds.

Another popular theory is that the flag was designed by Francis Hopkinson. The avian influenza subtypes that have been confirmed in humans, ordered by the number of known human deaths, are: H1N1 caused "Spanish Flu", H2N2 caused "Asian Flu", H3N2 caused "Hong Kong Flu", H5N1 is the current pandemic threat, H7N7 has unusual zoonotic potential, H1N2 is currently endemic in humans and pigs, H9N2, H7N2, H7N3, H10N7. Comparisons between the 2 flags support Fawcett's suggestion. [22]. The British historian Sir Charles Fawcett has suggested that the design of the flag may have been derived from the flag and jack of the British East India Company. In one case, a boy with H5N1 experienced diarrhea followed rapidly by a coma without developing respiratory or flu-like symptoms, suggesting non-standard symptoms. However, no evidence for this theory exists beyond Ross' own records. The severity of the infection will depend to a large part on the state of the infected person's immune system and if the victim has been exposed to the strain before, and is therefore partially immune.

A popular story credits Betsy Ross for sewing the first flag from a pencil sketch by George Washington who personally commissioned her for the job. [21] These include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, conjunctivitis and, in severe cases, severe breathing problems and pneumonia that may be fatal. flag design is uncertain. In humans, avian flu viruses cause similar symptoms to other types of flu. The origin of the U.S. Genetic factors in distinguishing between "human flu viruses" and "avian flu viruses" include:. The flag flew in battle for the first time at Cooch's Bridge in Delaware on September 3, 1777 during the American Revolutionary War. [19].

Before that, the admission of Alaska in January 1959 prompted the debut of a short-lived 49-star flag. H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2 are the only known avian flu virus subtypes currently circulating among humans. Heft's design was chosen, after Hawaii gained statehood in August 1959. "Human influenza virus" usually refers to those subtypes that spread widely among humans. The most recent change, from forty-nine stars to fifty, occurred in 1960 when Robert G. "[C]ontemporary human H3N2 influenza viruses are now endemic in pigs in southern China and can reassort with avian H5N1 viruses in this intermediate host." [18]. July 4, Independence Day in the United States, commemorates the founding of the nation. H5N1 is endemic in birds in southeast Asia and represents a long term pandemic threat.

When the flag design changes, the change always takes place on July 4 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a consequence of the Flag Act of April 4, 1818. 2005: Tens of millions of birds died of H5N1 influenza and hundreds of millions of birds were culled to protect humans from H5N1. It was the 15-star, 15-stripe flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner," now the national anthem. CDC detailed analysis. It was ultimately decided that there would be a star for each state, but the number of stripes would remain at thirteen to honor the original colonies. As of April 2004, 18 farms had been quarantined to halt the spread of the virus. As further states entered the union, extra stars and stripes were added until this proved to cause too much clutter. 2004: In North America, the presence of avian influenza strain H7N3 was confirmed at several poultry farms in British Columbia in February 2004.

Initially, a variety of designs were used, including a circular arrangement (below), but gradually a design featuring horizontal rows of stars emerged as the standard. [17]. The Flag Resolution did not specify any particular arrangement for the stars. 2003: In Netherlands H7N7 influenza virus infection broke out in poultry on several farms. Tradition holds that the new flag was first hoisted in June of 1777 by the Continental Army at the Middlebrook encampment. 2000: "In California, poultry producers kept their knowledge of a recent H6N2 avian influenza outbreak to themselves due to their fear of public rejection of poultry products; meanwhile, the disease spread across the western United States and has since become endemic." [15] [16]. On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress passed the Flag Resolution which stated: "Resolved, That the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation." Flag Day is now observed on June 14 of each year. Most recently, H3N8 viruses from horses have crossed over and caused outbreaks in dogs." [14].

Since 1937, the District of Columbia has used a flag based on this design. However, in 1997, H3N2 viruses from humans were introduced into the pig population and caused widespread disease among pigs. The red-and-white stripe (and later, stars-and-stripes) motif of the flag may have been based on the Washington family coat-of-arms, which consisted of a shield "argent, two bars gules, above, three mullets gules" (a white shield with two red bars below three red stars). pig population. The Grand Union Flag is the same as the East India Company flag of the same era, although the East India Company flag could have from 9 to 13 stripes. For example, until 1997, only H1N1 viruses circulated widely in the U.S. This flag formed the basis of the Stars and Stripes, consisting of 13 red and white stripes with the British Union Jack in the canton. 1997: "Influenza A viruses normally seen in one species sometimes can cross over and cause illness in another species.

This flag was initially flown by George Washington and is recorded as being first raised by Washington's troops at Prospect Hill on New Year's Day in 1776. In Mexico, for example, mass vaccination of chickens against epidemic H5N2 influenza in 1995 has had to continue in order to control a persistent and evolving virus (Lee et al., 2004)." [13]. At the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776, the most commonly flown flag was the Grand Union Flag. Intensive surveillance is required to detect these “silent epidemics” in time to curtail them. The current 50-star version will tie the record if it is still in use on July 4, 2007. 1995: "[V]accinated birds can develop asymptomatic infections that allow virus to spread, mutate, and recombine (ProMED-mail, 2004j). The 48-star version holds the record, 47 years, for the longest time the flag has gone unchanged. 1979: "More than 400 harbor seals, most of them immature, died along the New England coast between December 1979 and October 1980 of acute pneumonia associated with influenza virus, A/Seal/Mass/1/180 (H7N7)." [12].

The flag has gone through 26 changes since the new union of 13 states first adopted it. [11]. According to Presidential proclamation, Congressional order, and custom, the American flag is displayed continuously at the following locations:. Avian influenza viruses that the OIE and others test for in order to control poultry disease include: H5N1, H7N2, H1N7, H7N3, H13N6, H5N9, H11N6, H3N8, H9N2, H5N2, H4N8, H10N7, H2N2, H8N4, H14N5, H6N5, H12N5 and others. According to the New York Public Library Desk Reference:. [10]. the Philippines, also use this method to fold their flags. "Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus is on every top ten list available for potential agricultural bioweapon agents".

Former American territories, e.g. Symptoms in animals vary, but virulent strains can cause death within a few days. The final triangle shape result is said to invoke the image of the three-point hats popular during the American Revolutionary War. The incubation period is 3 to 5 days. Flags, when not in use, should be folded into a triangle shape. It can also be transmitted by contaminated feed, water, equipment and clothing; however, there is no evidence that the virus can survive in well cooked meat. Instead, the flag should be moved so it is not touching the ground. Avian influenza virus spreads in the air and in manure and survives longer in cold weather.

Contrary to a commonly believed urban legend, the flag code does not state that a flag that touches the ground should be burned. [9]. In other countries and places, local etiquette applies. Laboratory mice have been successfully infected with a variety of avian flu genotypes. jurisdiction. H3N8 viruses from horses have crossed over and caused outbreaks in dogs. This etiquette is as applied within U.S. [8] H5N1 has been shown to be also transmitted to tigers, leopards, and domestic cats who were fed uncooked domestic fowl (chickens) with the virus.

These are guidelines, not laws; there is no penalty for failure to comply with them. Prior to the current H5N1 epizootic, strains of avian influenza virus had been demonstrated to be transmitted from wild fowl to only birds, pigs, horses, seals, whales and humans; and only between humans and pigs and between humans and domestic fowl; and not other pathways such as domestic fowl to horse. There are certain guidelines for the use and display of the United States flag as outlined in the United States Flag Code of the federal government. Wild fowl act as natural asymptomatic carriers of avian flu virus. According to Heft, his teacher did keep to their agreement and changed his grade to an "A" for the project. The assembled virion cores leave the nucleus and migrate towards the cell membrane, with patches of viral transmembrane proteins (hemagglutinin, neuraminidase and M2 proteins) and an underlying layer of the M1 protein, and bud through these patches, releasing finished enveloped viruses into the extracellular fluid. Heft's flag design was chosen and adopted by presidential proclamation after Alaska and before Hawaii was admitted into the union in 1959. The RNA synthesis and its assembly with the nucleoprotein takes place in the cell nucleus, the synthesis of proteins takes place in the cytoplasm.

After discussing the grade with his teacher, it was agreed (somewhat jokingly) that if the flag was accepted by Congress, the grade would be reconsidered. The +RNA strands also serve for synthesis of -RNA strands for new virions. He originally received a "B-" for the project. After transcription from negative-sense to positive-sense RNA the +RNA strands get the cellular 5' cap added, allowing its processing as messenger RNA by ribosomes. His mother was a seamstress, but forced Heft to do all of the work on his own. The genome segments have common terminal sequences, and the ends of the RNA strands are partially complementary, allowing them to bond to each other by hydrogen bonds. He was 17 years old at the time and did the flag design as a class project. The 8 genes are:.

The current 50-star flag was designed by Robert Heft in 1958 while living with his grandparents in Ohio. The segmented nature of the genome also allows for the exchange of entire genes between different viral strains when they cohabitate the same cell. It gives the colors by reference to "Standard Color Cards of America" maintained by the Color Association of the United States, Inc., as. Each segment contains a single gene, but some can be read twice at different starting points to create two distinct proteins. According to Flags of the World, the colors are specified by the General Services Administration "Federal Specification, Flag, National, United States of America and Flag, Union Jack," DDD-F-416E, dated November 27, 1981. Influenza A viruses contain their genome in eight separate linear segments of negative-sense RNA, which code for ten proteins (eleven for type A if including the novel PB1-F1 protein). Presumably E and F are approximations of 7/130 = 0.0[538461], and G and H are approximations of 0.76/12 = 0.06[3]. [4] [5] "[C]ontemporary human H3N2 influenza viruses are now endemic in pigs in southern China and can reassort with avian H5N1 viruses in this intermediate host." [6].

The specification gives the following values:. Measured resistance to the standard antiviral drugs amantadine and rimantadine in H3N2 has increased from 1% in 1994 to 12% in 2003 to 91% in 2005. The design of the flag is specified by United States Code title 4, chapter 1, section 1 [1]. [3] The dominant strain in January 2006 is H3N2. A book about the flag published by the Congress in 1977 gives further symbolism for the flag:. The annually updated trivalent flu vaccine consists of hemagglutinin (HA) surface glycoprotein components from influenza H3N2, H1N1, and B influenza viruses. ^{[USGov 4]}. The annual flu (also called "seasonal flu" or "human flu") kills an estimated 36,000 people in the United States each year.

Reid suggested that the number of stripes be set at thirteen to represent the original 13 colonies and that only the number of stars be set to the number of states. Until recently, 15 HA types had been recognized, but a new type (H16) was isolated from black-headed gulls caught in Sweden and the Netherlands in 1999 and reported in the literature in 2005." [2]. Naval Captain Samuel C. "There are 16 different HA antigens (H1 to H16) and nine different NA antigens (N1 to N9) for influenza A. During the debate that eventually resulted in the Flag Act of 1818, U.S. Avian influenza viruses are negative sense, single-stranded, segmented RNA viruses. However, this became unwieldy as states were added to the union. The avian influenzavirus subtypes that have been confirmed in humans, ordered by the number of known human deaths, are: H1N1 caused "Spanish Flu", H2N2 caused "Asian Flu", H3N2 caused "Hong Kong Flu", H5N1 is the current pandemic threat, H7N7 has unusual zoonotic potential, H1N2 is currently endemic in humans and pigs, H9N2, H7N2, H7N3, H10N7.

Originally, both the number of stripes and the number of stars were supposed to represent the number of states. For example, the annual flu subtype H3N2 no longer contains the strain that caused the Hong Kong Flu. Thomson. Most known strains are extinct strains. Rather, the meanings were a matter of contemporary fashion and personal preference on the part of Mr. Each subtype virus has mutated into a variety of strains with differing pathogenic profiles; some pathogenic to one species but not others, some pathogenic to multiple species. Meanings were attached to the colors (which, contrary to popular misinformation, is not part of any of the rules of heraldry). The avian flu virus subtypes are labeled according to an H number (for hemagglutinin) and an N number (for neuraminidase).

However, on June 20, 1782, Charles Thomson, the secretary of the Continental Congress, gave a report to the Congress defining the new Great Seal of the United States. . When the Second Continental Congress proposed the Flag Resolution on June 14, 1777, there was no particular symbolism attached to the colors or their arrangement on the flag. Variants are sometimes also labeled according to:. Some groups concerned by these actions have proposed a Flag Burning Amendment that would give Congress the authority to outlaw burning the flag in disrespect or protest. [1]. Burning the flag has also been used as a deliberate act of disrespect (flag desecration), at times to protest actions by the United States government, or sometimes in displays of anti-Americanism overseas. It was first identified in Italy in the early 1900s and is now known to exist worldwide.

Then the three pieces are typically placed on a pyre as "Taps" is played. It is hosted by birds, but may infect several species of mammals. The flag is cut into three pieces: first a horizontal cut is made between the seventh and eighth stripes, then a vertical cut separating the star field from the seven shorter stripes. Influenza A virus causes "avian influenza" (also known as bird flu, avian flu, influenzavirus A flu, type A flu, or genus A flu). The approved method of destroying old and tattered flags consists of burning them in a simple ceremony. Influenzavirus A has only one species in it; that species is called "influenza A virus". Declaration of Independence. Influenzavirus A is a genus of a family of viruses called Orthomyxoviridae in virus classification.

Perhaps most of all they see it as a symbol of individual and personal liberty like those put forth in the U.S. Global Pandemic News : 24 X 7 online news feeds on the threat of Bird Flu and a Global Pandemic. Constitution and its Bill of Rights. Flu Breaking News Avian flu, common symptom, flu vaccine and flu shot and latest news. They have seen it as representing all of the freedoms and rights guaranteed in the U.S. Current status (Google news of avian+OR+bird+flu+OR+influenza). citizens, their flag symbolizes many things. Links to Bird Flu pictures (Hardin MD/Univ of Iowa).

To many U.S. Bird Flu is a Real Pandemic Threat to Humans by Leonard Crane, author of Ninth Day of Creation. war dead. Is a Global Flu Pandemic Imminent? from Infection Control Today. On Memorial Day it is common to place small flags by war memorials and next to the graves of U.S. 'The Threat of Bird Flu' : HealthPolitics.com. Many institutions, and some homeowners, display the flag year-round, while some reserve flag display for civic holidays like Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, Presidents' Day, Flag Day and the Fourth of July. Avian flu, bioterror, animals (page in an online book) "Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus is on every top ten list available for potential agricultural bioweapon agents".

. A Variety of Avian Flu Images and Pictures. flag is described as "A banner Gules, 6 bars Argent; the canton Azure charged with 50 mullets Argent.". A guide to bird flu and its symptoms from BBC Health. In blazons (a vexillological description using flag terminology), the U.S. Overview of H5N1 from New England Journal of Medicine. The United States flag is commonly called the "the Stars and Stripes" or "Old Glory," with the latter nickname coined in 1831 by Captain William Driver, a Salem, Massachusetts shipmaster. Special issue on avian flu from Nature.

The 50 stars on the flag represent the 50 states and the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies. Government's avian influenza information website. The flag of the United States consists of 13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars. U.S. Rectangle of stars: 48, 35, 30, 28, 24, 20. Avian influenza FAQ from the World Health Organization. Chessboard pattern: 51, 50, 49, 45, 15, 13 (standard). Avian influenza and Influenza Pandemics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

No symmetry: 43. Retrieved November 16th, 2005. Both, hence also point symmetry: 50, 48, 46, 45, 44, 37, 36, 34, 33, 32, 28, 26, 24, 20, 15, 13 (standard). World Health Organization. Symmetry with respect to vertical axis: 51, 50, 48, 46, 45, 44, 37, 36, 35, 34, 33, 32, 31, 30, 29, 28, 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, 21, 20, 15, 13 (standard and Betsy Ross). "Avian Influenza Factsheet". Symmetry with respect to horizontal axis: 50, 49, 48, 46, 44, 38, 37, 36, 34, 33, 32, 30, 28, 26, 24, 20, 15, 13 (standard). 28.

It is assumed however that Apollo 11's flag was knocked down by the force of return to lunar orbit. New Straits Times, p. In addition, the American flag is presumed to be in continual display on the surface of the Earth's Moon, having been placed there by the astronauts of Apollo 11, Apollo 12, Apollo 14, Apollo 15, Apollo 16, and Apollo 17. 5, 2005). By custom, at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Deadwood, South Dakota. (Nov. By custom, at the United States Capitol since 1918. "Three million Asians may die".

By custom, at the plaza in Taos, New Mexico, since 1861. F18. By custom, at the Worcester, Massachusetts war memorial. New Sunday Times, p. By custom, at the home, birthplace and grave of Francis Scott Key, all in Maryland. 6, 2005). Washington Camp Ground, part of the former Middlebrook encampment, Bridgewater, New Jersey, Thirteen Star Flag, by Act of Congress. (Nov.

First raised July 4, 1917.[2]. "Reining in bird flu: Answer may lie with reverse engineering". Mount Slover limestone quarry (Colton Liberty Flag), in Colton, California (Act of Congress). 23–31. Grounds of the National Memorial Arch in Valley Forge State Park, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania (Public Law 94-53, approved July 4, 1975). Scientific American, p. By order of Richard Nixon at United States Customs Service Ports of Entry that are continuously open (Presidential Proclamation No.4131, May 5, 1972). "Preparing for a Pandemic".

4064, July 6, 1971, effective July 4, 1971). 2005). (Presidential Proclamation No. Waut & Soares, Christine (Nov. Flags are displayed continuously at the Washington Monument, Washington, DC. Gibbs, W. Fifty U.S. PB2 gene encoding an RNA polymerase.

The White House, Washington, DC (Presidential Proclamation No.4000, September 4, 1970). PB1 gene encoding an RNA polymerase and PB1-F2 protein (induces apoptosis) by using different reading frames from the same RNA segment. Lexington, Massachusetts Town Green (Public Law 89-335, approved November 8, 1965). PA gene encoding an RNA polymerase. 3418, June 12, 1961). NS gene encoding two distinct non-structural proteins by using different reading frames from the same RNA segment. United States Marine Corps War Memorial (Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima), Arlington, Virginia (Presidential Proclamation No. M gene encoding two matrix proteins (the M1 and the M2) by using different reading frames from the same RNA segment (about 3000 matrix protein molecules are needed to make one virion).

Flag House Square, Albemarle and Pratt Streets, Baltimore, Maryland, 15-star/15-stripe flag (Public Law 83-319, approved March 26, 1954). Influenza A, B, and C are distinguished by their nucleoproteins. 2795, July 2, 1948). NP gene encoding nucleoprotein. Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, Baltimore, Maryland, 15-star/15-stripe flag (Presidential Proclamation No. NA gene encoding neuraminidase (about 100 molecules of neuraminidase are needed to make one virion). flag. However HAs of H5 and H7 pantropic avian viruses subtypes can be cleaved by furin and subtilisin-type enzymes, allowing the virus to grow in other organs than lungs." [7].

Only the United Nations flag and a Navy chaplain's church pennant may be flown higher than the U.S. The reason is that HA is cleaved by tryptase clara which is restricted to lungs. In a display of multiple flags, the American flag should be at the center of and above the other flags. bronchial epithelial cells) into lumen of lungs and are therefore usually pneumotropic. Capitol flies over the body in session (House or Senate) and remains there, lit, day and night. Influenza viruses bud from the apical surface of polarized epithelial cells (e.g. The flag at the U.S. HA gene encoding hemagglutinin (about 500 molecules of hemagglutinin are needed to make one virion) "The extent of infection into host organism is determined by HA.

When the flag is completely folded, only a triangular blue field of stars should be visible. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) (also called: deadly flu or death flu). The triangular folding is continued until the entire length of the flag is folded in this manner. Low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI). Turn the outer end point inward, parallel to the open edge, to form a second triangle. deadliness