What is Bird Flu?
“Bird flu (Avian influenza), is a virus that is transmitted from bird to bird. The most common type of bird flu is H5N1. It is very dangerous for birds and does not spread easily to humans, but there was a major outbreak of bird flu in humans in 2014. Very few cases of human-to-human transmission were among the closest people, such as a mother who contracted the virus while caring for a sick baby. “Migratory waterfowl - especially wild ducks - are natural carriers of bird flu viruses. It is suspected that the infection could spread from wild birds to domestic chickens”.
“Over you can worry too much about “bird flu,” there are a few important facts you need to know about the disease. “Bird flu” is not the same as human flu. “Bird flu” -H5N1 is the most dangerous Asian bird flu - a serious bird disease. All known victims were close to the infected birds, especially in rural Asia. Where there is no close contact with infected birds, there is no human disease”.
How Do People Get bird flu?
“The people catch bird flu by contact with birds or bird droppings. In the 2014 outbreak, some people contracted H5N1 for cleaning or sorting infected birds. There have been reports in China of infection by inhaling airborne contaminants from live bird markets. It is also possible that some people become infected after swimming or bathing in water contaminated with bird droppings. And some diseases have occurred in people with warring cockroaches”.
“People do not get the virus by eating whole chicken or eggs. There have been a few cases where an infected person contracted the bird flu virus from another person, but only after close contact with him. “In Indonesia in 2006, bird flu spread to eight members of one family. Seven of them died. It is not clear how this happened. Family members likely came in contact with infected birds. They may also have shared a gene that made them more susceptible to infection. However, regular contact does not seem to be involved”.
The food supply is protected. The poultry industry and the US government consider Asian bird flu to be the most important factor because it can threaten poultry for sale. It is distributed by migratory birds, so the federal government monitors wild birds in areas where they may come in contact with Asian birds.
Safety on poultry farms is very strict. Chickens are kept away from wild birds. Strict procedures keep the virus from tracking in the bird's habitat. Poultry farmers' main priority is to protect their flocks. The industry and provincial governments are sponsoring comprehensive screening programs to look for any signs of Asian bird flu. Under the National Chicken Council program, which is followed by almost all poultry companies, each herd is tested. Any flock of chickens that are found to be infected with the Asian avian influenza virus will be destroyed on the farm and not fed.
What Are the Symptoms of Avian Influenza in Humans?
It may begin with common symptoms such as the flu. Sometimes, this can get worse and worse with a serious respiratory illness that can be fatal. In February 2005, researchers in Vietnam reported cases of human bird flu, in which the virus entered the brain and digestive tract of two children. They both died. These conditions indicate that bird flu in humans may not look like the common cold flu”.
Is There a Cure for Bird Flu?
“Drugs with the drug Sammamivir (Tamiflu), peramivir (Rapivab), or zanamivir (Relenza) may help treat bird flu in humans, although further research is needed. These medications should be given immediately after symptoms appear”.
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