Share
Bird flu is also called as avian flu or avian influenza. The main bird flu causes is Influenza A virus, A does not stand for avian. It has many subtypes to infect birds and animals as well. Pigs, cats, ferrets, dogs’ etcetera are some of the animals that contract the infection of this virus. Though these strains are adapted to birds, it can infect humans as well, by mutating its strain.
Causes of bird flu in humans arise from the droppings, saliva, feathers, blood of a bird that is infected with avian flu virus. These viruses infect humans when they are exposed to the droppings or saliva of an infected bird. Bird flu is a pandemic disease causing the death of huge number of people.
The genetic factors vary for human as well as bird infecting viruses as the genetically mutated strain affects the humans. Some strains that are pathogenic to humans are H5N1, H7N7, H7N3 and H9N2. These strains can even cause death of an individual. Avoiding the causes of bird flu like droppings, infected poultry, and saliva of the infected bird can prevent the humans from getting infected by some of the deadly strain. It can also spread from one infected human to others.
The season makes us cautious about the flu symptoms. Avian flu symptoms include fever, sore throat, and cough, soreness of muscle and eye infection. Not all these symptoms are experienced by everyone. Fever is the most common symptom of bird flu causes. Other symptoms vary with the individual. Unlike the seasonal flu, avian flu causes eye infection which is specific for this type of virus. And for any kind of flu the cough would be dry and unproductive unlike the cough with cold. These symptoms occur after five or six days after infection. The incubation period of this virus is not yet determined. People with these symptoms have to visit the doctor for diagnosis of seasonal flu or avian flu.
Diagnosis of the seasonal flu is done by laboratory tests. If the symptoms are reported earlier, the swab from the throat or nose is tested for the presence of influenza virus. Cleaning hands frequently, wearing face masks, avoiding the causes of bird flu etcetera can definitely keep these viruses away from your boundary. Even cooking the poultry well can avoid the infection that spread through them.
When the symptoms occur, it has to be immediately reported to the doctor for diagnosis and further treatment should be continued because if left untreated avian flu can lead to complications. Viral pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome are complications of avian flu. These complications are life threatening. Reporting at the earliest about the symptoms to the doctor can avoid the complications of avian flu.
