What is Avian Bird Flu? |
The Avian influenza, also known as the bird flu, is caused by the H5N1 virus. This virus infects birds including poultry birds like chicken and wild birds such as ducks. Although the bird flu was previously only seen to infect birds, the disease has now spread to humans. The risk of infection is low to most people as this disease is generally seen to occur in wild birds worldwide. However, even in birds the flu does not affect much as these birds carry the virus in their intestinal tracts, and therefore, in most cases the birds shed these viruses through feces. But it must be noted that flu among birds is generally very contagious, and can therefore, very easily spread to domesticated birds from wild birds, and consequently to humans as well. The H5N1 virus has been shown through studies to mutate often. It is for this reason that people at risk of being exposed or infected with this disease should get vaccinated every year to prevent infection from different variations of the Avian flu. Its symptoms are much like those of other kinds of flu and has uses the same vaccines as those of other flu. People diagnosed to be infected should take proper medication as prescribed by the doctor and are advised to stay at home in order to prevent the spreading of the disease. |