Brief overview of bird flu symptoms
Typical signs and symptoms of bird flu include:
- High fever.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Pink eye, also known as conjunctivitis.
- Stomach upset and vomiting.
- Loose stool, or diarrhea.
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or congested nose
- Muscle or body aches
- Headaches
- Fatigue
Bird flu can cause respiratory issues more frequently than other flu strains. During bird flu pandemics, the likelihood that an infected person will require a breathing ventilator increases.
What is bird flu?
Bird flu seldom infects humans. However, health authorities are concerned that influenza A viruses affecting birds might mutate, allowing them to infect humans and transmit more easily between people. A new bird flu strain would be unfamiliar to humans, and if it mutates, it could rapidly spread globally.
People usually contract bird flu by having close, prolonged contact with live, domesticated poultry, often on farms or backyard coops. They can also acquire the virus from contact with wild birds or other animals. However, transmission from person to person is sporadic.
In humans, the flu is a viral infection that affects the nose, throat, and lungs, which are components of the respiratory system. Bird flu symptoms in humans resemble those of the regular flu and can range from mild to severe.
What are the common causes of bird flu in humans?
Influenza is caused by viruses that infect the cells lining the nose, throat, and lungs.
Flu virus particles spread via breath, saliva, mucus, or stool. Human infection with bird flu can happen when you inhale these particles. You can also contract the virus by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
People most frequently catch bird flu through close, long-term contact with live domestic poultry, usually on farms or in backyard coops. Exposure to wild birds or other animals is rarely the source.
Birds you might observe in parks or yards, like crows or sparrows, generally pose a low risk. They typically do not carry bird flu viruses that can infect humans or farm animals.
Exposure to bird flu can occur through undercooked foods like eggs or poultry. If bird flu has reached dairy cows in an area, it might also spread through raw dairy products. However, properly pasteurized dairy products, which are heated to kill germs, do not pose a risk of bird flu.
What are the risk factors for bird flu?
The chance of a person catching bird flu is minimal. The primary way people are exposed is through contact with sick poultry or their surroundings. Infected birds can transmit the virus via their breath, saliva, mucus, or feces.
Rarely, people catch bird flu after contact with wild birds or other animals. Occasionally, humans have also transmitted bird flu to other humans.
How is avian flu diagnosed?
To diagnose bird flu, a doctor takes a fluid sample from your nose and throat to check for infection. If you have pink eye, they may also collect a sample from your eye.
If you’ve been exposed to bird flu at work, during travel, or through hobbies and develop symptoms, consult your doctor immediately.
What are the treatment options for bird flu?
Antivirals, which prevent the spread of the flu virus in the body, are used to treat bird flu. These medications are most effective when taken at the first sign of symptoms. Therefore, your doctor might prescribe a medication even before laboratory test results confirm the flu.
These medicines may include oseltamivir (Tamiflu), zanamivir (Relenza), or peramivir (Rapivab).
It’s essential to avoid close contact with others while waiting for your lab results. If you have bird flu, healthcare providers might suggest testing those who were in close contact with you while you were symptomatic. They may also prescribe antiviral medication to exposed individuals at high risk of severe illness.
How can you prevent yourself from getting bird flu?
To avoid bird flu, follow all recommended precautions to safeguard yourself when working with animals.
Individuals can take various measures to reduce their risk of contracting bird flu.
- Avoid contact with animals that are sick or may be ill.
- Wear eye, nose, and mouth protection as necessary.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
- Wash all surfaces that have come into contact with raw poultry, meat, seafood, or eggs using hot, soapy water.
- Cook the food thoroughly.
- Refrain from consuming raw dairy products.
Check Bird Flu Symptoms Now
Living with the bird flu
Some individuals with bird flu experience only mild symptoms or none at all. If symptoms become severe, hospitalization may be necessary for continuous monitoring and prompt treatment of complications. Headlines about bird flu might cause concern. Although it remains rare in humans, certain groups, such as those working with dairy cows, birds, or other animals that can transmit the virus, are at higher risk. However, there are steps you can take to lower this risk. If you have any worries about bird flu, consult a doctor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is bird flu transmissible?
Bird flu is very rarely transmissible between humans, with only a few reported cases of human-to-human spread, all outside the U.S. Most human infections happen through contact with infected animals. Nevertheless, when a person is infected, the virus can mutate and easily spread to others.
What is the mortality rate associated with bird flu?
Overall, the human mortality rate for bird flu is high; approximately half of all diagnosed cases have resulted in death. Nevertheless, most recent U.S. cases have been mild.
When is it necessary to visit the ER?
Visit the closest emergency room if you experience signs of severe illness, such as difficulty breathing, a fever above 103°F (40°C), confusion or altered mental state, extreme fatigue or an inability to wake, severe headache, or stiff neck.
Can bird flu potentially cause a pandemic?
It is possible that a bird flu strain could cause a pandemic if it mutates to spread easily among people.
How do cattle contract bird flu?
Cattle and other animals acquire bird flu in the same way as humans, by inhaling virus-laden dust in animal environments or through direct contact with the body fluids of infected animals.
