The World Health Organization (WHO) makes reports and updates regarding new human cases of infection with bird flu. The only subtype that can cause severe illness to people is Influenza A /H5N1 virus, initially it affects chickens, ducks and other birds by the process of mutation they can become highly pathogenic. Because highly pathogenic viruses can survive for long periods in tissue, water and in the environment, especially when temperatures are low is transmitted very easily in chickens and other birds through direct contact with feces and secretions from infected birds, eggs, feed, water, cages equipment, vehicles and clothing. Public health authorities monitor human illnesses associated with avian influenza. In Hong-Kong occured for the first time infection both in humans and poultry and were killed about 1.5 million chickens.
In China and Hong-Kong avian influenza A (H9N2) virus infection affected two children who recovered. The source was unknown, but suspected the poultry.
In Virginia, 2002 an outbreak of H7N2 among poultry was descovered but,with no human victims. Canada, 2004: human infections among poultry workers with H7N3.
Thailand and Vietnam human infections with H5N1. Azerbaijan, Cambodia, China, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Thailand, Turkey, 2006: Human infections with H5N1 occurred as a result of contact with infected poultry and with infected death swangs. Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, 2005 two persons have been infected with H5N1 as result of consuming uncooked duck blood. China two cases of patogenic infections with avian influenza A (H5N1) have been confirmed in a family travelling through China. Netherlands, 2003 were reported outbreaks of influenza A (H7N7) in several farms, after which in pigs and people, 90 people were confrmed with bird flu virus H7N7 in association with cases of eye conjunctivitis, one death occured at a veterinarian with acute respiratory distress syndrome and other complications after having direct contact with infected poultry. In New York, 2003 there has been registered one case a patient with respiratory symptoms which recovered in few weeks and tests confirmed it had been avian influenza A (H7N2) virus. Signs and symptoms of bird flu in humans are similar to other influenza viruses: sore throat and cough, fever, muscle weakness and/or pain, eye infections, with life-threatening complications such as: severe viral pneumonia, respiratory distress syndrome, multi- organ failure.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration suggests the following antiviral agents supposed to prevent and treat avian influenza: amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir, and zanamivir. They may be not always effective it has been demonstrated that viruses are resistent to amantadine and rimantadine. In the United States they are not in use any more for the treatment or prevention (prophylaxis) of influenza A. Specialists are monitoring the resistence of avian influenza A viruses to influenza antiviral medications.
Filed under Influenza by 
If you undergo any influenza signs and symptoms, make certain that you report these to a proper professional. This is an eminent notification that should be obeyed by everyone especially you as it could be avian influenza. Why is it so eminent to do? Of course, by reporting the influenza signs and symptoms earlier, you will be able to stay away from one potential curable illness.
Avian influenza virus is commonly spread through infected birds. This killer illness can be carried by chickens or ducks. It is eminent to know that influenza signs and symptoms are commonly attracted through very little forms. Nevertheless, be careful of this illness since it can cause infectious as well as a rapidly fatal illness.
Avian or H5N1 influenza is commonly deadly influenza that commonly known in Asia. Additionally, it’s also known to be a highly pathogenic virus that invades humans and can cause fatalities.
Avian Influenza Signs and Symptoms in Birds
Generally, the birds spread the infection through a number of ways before humans get infected with this virus. Humans can get infected through their nasal secretions, saliva, as well as feces. The birds become susceptible to the strain of virus when they come in contact with infected excretions such as on surfaces and in food.
Influenza signs and symptoms are typically experienced by the bird include a decrease in egg production and lethargy or decrease in their normal activity. In addition, an infected person will also experience swelling of the head, breathing problems and difficulties, loose bowel movement, muscle paralysis and eventually death.
Avian Influenza Signs and Symptoms in Humans
Avian influenza signs and symptoms in humans come into view alike to the ones experienced with any other flu. Cough, lethargy, sore throat, headache, muscle aches and conjunctivitis are among the most commonly reported influenza signs and symptoms.
Moreover, the bird flu even can develop to more harmful by causing an infected person at risk to pneumonia and other breathing problems. Before the condition gets worse, it’s essential to get the proper influenza symptoms treatment. Fatality among infected humans can be expected if the treatment isn’t addressed at an early time.
Each person will be able to avoid the deadly virus if they are knowledgeable about the avian influenza signs and symptoms. In addition, in order to avoid the occurrence of infection, a person should have a healthy immune system. Keep in mind that a person will be vulnerable to illness if their immune resistance is compromised.
Still being curious about influenza signs and symptoms? Just explore more on the links here and you will get much more about it as well as any thing related.
Filed under Influenza by
Avian flu, which was identified more than 100 years ago in Italy, is an infectious disease of birds, and is caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. An outbreak of avian influenza has occurred in number of Asian countries in their domestic and wild bird populations.
Avian flu is a contagious disease and all birds are very susceptible to influenza viruses. These viruses are of different subtypes and subtype H5N1 is the one, which has emerged as a threat to bird’s population and has affected the human’s health as well.
In fact, there is no report of transmission of this disease among humans but those people is likely to be infected who have touched or handled the infected birds directly and do not take preventive measure at the time of outbreak of this disease.
Shigeru Omi, Western Pacific Regional Director of World Health Organization, recently said that “We believe that the world is now in the gravest possible danger of a pandemic” and urged international co-ordination to fight the virus.
Another official of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, Samuel Jutzi said that “there is an increasing risk of avian influenza spread that no poultry-keeping country can afford to ignore it”
Generally, avian influenza gets transmitted to the domesticated birds if direct contact is made with the infected fowl or poultry, or through their saliva, nasal secretion or feces, and sharing of same water or feed that have been contaminated with the virus.
When humans are infected by this virus, the visible symptoms are fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, eye infections, pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases, and other severe and life-threatening complications. But the severity of the infection will depend mostly on the immunity power of an infected person.
Until now, there is no specific drug available for the treatment of H5N1 infection in humans but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. have suggested that the anti-viral medication oseltamivir phosphate, with the brand name Tamiflu, may be effective in treating avian influenza.
Apart from Tamiflu anti-viral medicines likeamantadine, and relenza has shown its power in preventing the spread of virus inside the body. Both drugs have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of type A influenza illness. Amantadine can prevent 61% of H5N1 cases and 25% of influenza-like illness and relenza, which is available in the form of inhaler and is effective if used within two days of the onset of the influenza symptom.
Avian flu is spreading worldwide because of lack of effective diagnostic tools, and the surveillance system of the infected country. There is an urgent need to educate general public including health officials about the healthy way of tackling such outbreaks. Workers involved in culling process must be given proper clothing and equipment to prevent further spread of the disease.
Moreover, the need of an hour is to minimize the infection rate among poultry and keeping humans free of avian influenza. For this, constant studies are needed to make the available anti-viral medicine more targeted towards the upcoming viruses.
Filed under Influenza by
