There are more than a dozen types of bird flu (also known as avian flu), but only two strains have recently infected humans: H5N1 and H7N9. Though the bird flu virus rarely infects humans, it can be deadly when it does. There have been several outbreaks of bird flu in recent years, spreading to Asia, Africa, and to parts of Europe. Though most people who have developed symptoms were in close contact with sick birds, there are a few cases where the bird flu was transmitted between humans.
If the bird flu virus mutates into a form that is more easily transmittable from person to person, health officials worry that a deadly global outbreak could occur. Because of this, researchers are working on vaccines to help protect people against this virus.
Bird Flu Symptoms
Bird flu often occurs in certain parts of the world with farms and open-air markets. If you have traveled to one of these places and contract bird flu, you will usually start to show symptoms within two to eight days after being exposed, depending on the type of bird flu you have.
Symptoms for avian flu are typically similar to other types of influenza. They include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Muscle aches
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
In some cases, you might also experience a mild eye infection called conjunctivitis. This is usually the only indicator that symptoms are caused by bird flu and not a conventional strain of influenza.
You should see your doctor immediately if you begin to experience any of these symptoms after recently traveling somewhere where bird flu is common.
Bird Flu Causes
Bird flu is transmitted via contact with an infected bird’s feces, or secretions from its nose, eyes, or mouth. This virus naturally occurs in wild waterfowl, but it can be spread to domestic poultry as well, including chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese. In places where eggs and birds are sold in crowded and unsanitary conditions, such as open-air markets, the bird flu virus is very easily transmitted and can be spread to the wider community.
Eating the undercooked meat or eggs from an infected bird can also transmit the virus. To avoid this, always cook poultry meat to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit and cook eggs until the yolks are firm and white.
Bird Flu Treatments
There is a category of antiviral drugs including amantadine and Flumadine (rimantadine) that many influenza viruses have developed resistance to. Therefore, health officials will usually recommend Tamiflu (oseltamivir) or Relenza (zanamivir). These drugs can help reduce the severity of symptoms as well as lower your risk of complications. However, these antiviral medications must be taken within two days of the start of symptoms in order to work.
There is some concern that some types of bird flu are developing resistance to Tamiflu (oseltamivir). Because of this, Chinese health officials have recently developed another type of flu medication specifically approved to treat the strain H7N9 of the bird flu.
