Bird Flu

Bird Flu

What is Bird Flu?
It’s a disease, which is known formally as Avian influenza and  refers to "influenza caused by viruses adapted to birds. 

 There are three types of influenza viruses (A, B, and C). Avian influenza usually refers to the influenza A virus.

 Though influenza A is adapted to birds, it can also stably adapt and sustain person-to person transmission.

Avian influenza strains are divided into two types based on their pathogenicity: high pathogenicity (HP) or low pathogenicity (LP).

The type with the greatest risk is highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

The most well-known HPAI strain, H5N1, appeared in China in 1996, and also has low pathogenic strains found in North America.

Companion birds in captivity and Pigeons are not known to contract or spread the virus.

How does Bird Flu spread to humans?

People catch bird flu by coming in close contact with birds or bird droppings.
There has been no sustained human-to-human spread of H5N1.
However, in case of close and prolonged personal contact, there have been a few cases where one infected person caught the bird flu virus from another person.

Symptoms of Bird Flu in Humans

·         Bird flu symptoms in humans vary. It may start out as normal flu-like symptoms such as  cough, diarrhea, respiratory difficulties, fever (over 100.4°F), headache, muscle aches, malaise, runny nose, sore throat, etc.
·         
     When it worsens, it can cause severe diseases like sepsis (a possibly fatal inflammatory response to bacteria and other germs), pneumonia, organ failure and acute respiratory distress

Treatment of Bird Flu

Antiviral medication such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu), zanamivir (Relenza), or peramivir (Rapivab) can help reduce the severity of the bird flu.
  These drugs must be given soon after symptoms appear
The virus causing the Bird Flu can develop resistance to the two most common forms of antiviral medications, amantadine and rimantadine. Therefore, these medications shouldn’t be used to treat the disease.
Precautions to avoid Bird flu
·         Avoid going to crowded and open air markets,

·         Avoid direct contact with infected birds or contact  with the people who may be in close contacts with the infected birds,

·         Eat only fully cooked chicken and eggs and DO NOT take undercooked poultry.

·         Do not come in contact with someone who is sick with Bird Flu.

·         If someone in the family or in close contact with you is sick with bird flu, place him or her in isolation
   In such a case, you should also take the prescribed antivirals as a preventive measure, even if you aren’t sick.
·         As a general hygiene practice, wash your hands regularly.

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