Overview
Bird flu, also known as avian influenza, is a respiratory infection caused by an individualized strain of the influenza virus. The Mayo Clinic explains that bird flu is not often contracted by people, but, when it is, it can be deadly, with over half of the patients infected with bird flu dying.
Symptoms
The Mayo Clinic says that symptoms of bird flu include cough, high temperature, sore throat and muscle aches. Patients have complained of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and, occasionally, eye infections. Symptoms usually appear around two to five days after exposure to the virus.
Cause
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the cause of bird flu is an influenza A virus, also referred to as H5N1. The Mayo Clinic attests that bird flu is natural among wild waterfowl, but it can easily spread to domesticated chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese. Bird flu is contracted by touching or coming into contact with infected bird feces or drainage from the bird’s eyes, nose or mouth. Unsanitary areas where eggs and birds are sold can easily become contaminated with the virus. Thoroughly cooked poultry products will not transmit the virus.
Complications
Bird flu can cause life-threatening problems, such as pneumonia, deflation of a lung, respiratory failure, kidney problems and cardiac problems, notes the Mayo Clinic.
Diagnosis
To diagnose bird flu, a health care provider may perform the following exams: laboratory testing (consisting of nose and throat swabs) to identify the virus and chest x-rays to determine the current condition of the lungs.
Treatment
Bird flu is resistant to two of the more common antiviral medications, amantadine and rimantadine, warns the CDC. As an alternative, health care providers may administer oseltamivir and zanamivir, two other types of antiviral drugs. The effectiveness of these medications is not entirely known, and additional research is needed. The Mayo Clinic describes oseltamivir as an oral medication, while zanamivir is inhaled through the mouth into the lungs, similar to an asthma inhaler. These medications must be initiated within two days of noticing symptoms.
Prevention
A vaccine exists to prevent bird flu, but it is not available to the general public, explains the Mayo Clinic. The U.S. government is maintaining an inventory of the vaccine to use in case of an outbreak. The vaccine can be used for adults ages 18 to 64. Other preventive measures include washing hands, avoiding contact with domesticated birds and their eggs, not eating raw eggs, and cooking poultry products to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
