What is Bird Flu?

Bird Flu is also referred to as avian influenza and is an infection caused by influenza viruses. These flu viruses occur naturally among birds. Wild birds worldwide carry the viruses in their intestines, but are usually disaffected. However, avian flu is very contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, very sick and cause death.

Do bird flu viruses infect humans?

Flu viruses, contracted from birds, will not typically infect humans, although several cases have occurred since 1997. Governments worldwide are taking precautionary measures, due to the risk posed by the latest H5N1 bird flu strain. The H5N1 virus has killed tens of millions of birds worldwide, and there have been over 400 cases of humans catching the deadly disease. Currently, the strain of influenza cannot be passed to humans easily. However experts are warning of a possible global pandemic. Influenza viruses are very effective at mutating into different forms. If the current H5N1 strain was to mutate and be as effective in terms of human transmission as it currently is in birds, the results could be devastating.

What are the symptoms of bird flu in humans?

There is currently insufficient information, regarding human infection. This is the result of the fact that there have only been 400 recorded cases. Judging from previously recorded instances, avian influenza in humans seems to take a much more aggressive course than regular flu. Pneumonia and multiple-organ failure are not uncommon. Symptoms in humans have ranged from typical but more severe flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches) to eye infections, pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases (such as acute respiratory distress), and other life-threatening complications. The symptoms of bird flu may depend on which virus caused the infection.

What is the risk to humans from bird flu?

The Risk to humans is relatively low; as the virus will predominantly infect birds and not humans. However, in the event of an outbreak of bird flu among poultry (domesticated chicken, ducks, turkeys), there is a possible risk to anybody in close contact with infected birds, or surfaces that have been contaminated with excretions. The current outbreak of avian influenza A (H5N1) among poultry in Asia is an example that has in fact lead to human infection, and fatalities. In such cases, people should avoid contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces, and should be careful when handling and cooking poultry. Of those who have contracted the H5N1 influenza from birds, over 60% die.

Studies suggest that the prescription medicines approved for human flu viruses, would work in preventing bird flu infection in humans. However, flu viruses can eventually become resistant to these drugs, so the medications may not always work in every case.