Avian influenza or avian bird flu is a viral infection caused by influenza or flu viruses that occur naturally in birds. Wild birds carry the viruses, but are usually unaffected by them. In domesticated birds (chickens, ducks and turkeys) avian bird flu viruses cause sickness and sometimes death. Bird flu symptoms in the previously mentioned domesticated poultry may be mild causing ruffled feathers and low egg production or severe causing disease affecting multiple organs and death in 90-100% of flocks in as little as 48 hours.

 

 

Avian bird flu does not usually occur in humans; however, over 100 confirmed cases of avian bird flu in humans have been reported since 1997. Most cases of avian bird flu in humans resulted from contact with infected domesticated birds or surfaces contaminated by the infected birds. The spread of avian bird flu from one person to another has only been reported rarely.

 

 

Bird flu symptoms in humans have been similar to typical flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough and muscle aches. But, in some confirmed human cases the bird flu symptoms have included: eye infections, pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases, acute respiratory distress and other severe and life-threatening complications. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) believes that the wide range of bird flu symptoms in humans may depend on which strain of avian bird flu virus the person was infected with.

 

 

Avian bird flu symptoms alone are not sufficient to make the diagnosis of avian influenza in humans or birds, because bird flu symptoms are so similar to typical flu symptoms and other viral infections. In order to make a confirmed diagnosis of avian bird flu in humans, a swab of the nose or throat must be taken within the first few days of illness and sent to a lab for evaluation. Blood tests may also be used to confirm the diagnosis of avian bird flu in humans.

 

 

A specific influenza virus (H5N1) will be present if it is a true case of avian bird flu. There are numerous flu viruses among birds and humans, some causing no or few symptoms. Only the H5N1 virus is believed to cause severe avian bird flu symptoms.

 

 

It is not possible to contract avian bird flu by eating properly handled and cooked poultry or eggs. Even if poultry or eggs were infected with the virus, proper cooking would kill avian bird flu virus, just as proper cooking kills other bacteria and viruses that can cause infection or food poisoning. Importation of poultry from countries which have been affected by avian bird flu has been banned since 2004.

 

 

Avian bird flu is not easily transmitted by human to human contact. The only confirmed cases of avian bird flu caused by contact with an infected person have occurred in families who remained in close contact with the person suffering from bird flu symptoms throughout the illness. This is unlike seasonal flu which is highly contagious, meaning it can pass from person to person to person and by contact with an item touched by an infected person. The concern over a pandemic (worldwide spread) arises from the fact that viruses mutate. So, if the current avian bird flu virus were to mutate into one that was highly contagious then a worldwide outbreak could occur.

 

 

There is currently no avian bird flu vaccine. If you do not have contact with birds that are infected with the avian bird flu virus and you do not take care of people who have contracted the avian bird flu virus, then you will not develop avian bird flu symptoms from the virus as it currently exists. If the virus should mutate to a more contagious form, you can still protect yourself from an avian bird flu virus in the same way that you would protect your self from seasonal flu.

 

 

Wash your hands after contact with the public or after being in public places and avoid touching your face or nose if your hands are not clean. Eat a well-balanced diet, take a daily multi-vitamin and use products like Viral Protec to give your immune system a boost, particularly during cold and flu season.