Avian Influenza – What is it, Symptoms and Treatments!

Avian Influenza – What it is, Symptoms and Treatments of this condition. Furthermore, Avian Influenza is a viral infection that can infect not only birds, but also humans and other animals. Most forms of the virus are restricted to birds.

H5N1 is the most common form of Avian Influenza . It is deadly to birds and can easily affect humans and other animals that come into contact with a carrier. According to the World Health Organization , H5N1 was discovered in humans in 1997 and killed nearly 60 percent of those infected.

Currently, the virus is not spread by human-to-human contact. Still, some experts worry that H5N1 could pose a risk of becoming a pandemic threat to humans.

Causes of Avian Influenza: Although there are several types of Avian Influenza , H5N1 was the firstAvian Influenza virus to infect humans. The first infection occurred in Hong Kong in 1997. The focus was related to the management of infected birds.

H5N1 occurs naturally in wild waterfowl but can easily spread to domestic fowl. The disease is transmitted to humans through contact with infected bird feces, nasal secretions, or secretions from the mouth or eyes.

Consumption of properly cooked poultry or eggs from infected birds does not transmit Avian Influenza , but eggs should never be served runny. Meat is considered safe if it is cooked to an internal temperature of 73.9°C (165°F).

Symptoms of Avian Flu: You may have an H5N1 infection if you have typical flu-like symptoms such as:

• Cough
• Diarrhea
• breathing difficulties
• Fever (above 100.4°F or 38°C)
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• malaise
• coryza
• Sore throat

If you are exposed to Avian Influenza , you must notify staff before arriving at the doctor’s office or hospital. Alerting them ahead of time will allow them to take precautions to protect staff and other patients before caring for you.

Avian Flu Risk Factors: H5N1 has the ability to survive for long periods of time. Birds infected with H5N1 continue to shed the virus in feces and saliva for up to 10 days. Touching contaminated surfaces can spread the infection .

You may be at a higher risk of getting H5N1 if you are:

• A poultry farmer;
• A visitor visiting affected areas;
• Exposed to infected birds;
• Someone who eats undercooked poultry or eggs;
• A healthcare worker caring for infected patients;
• A family member of an infected person.

Avian Influenza Diagnostics: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has approved a test designed to identify Avian Influenza . The test is called RT-PCR injection and Influenza A/H5 virus real-time RT-PCR probe setIt can offer preliminary results in just four hours. However, the test is not widely available.

Your doctor may also perform the following tests to look for the presence of the virus that causes Avian Flu :

• Auscultation (a test that detects abnormal breath sounds);
• Differential white blood cells;
• Nasopharyngeal culture;
• Chest X-ray;
• Additional tests may be done to assess heart, kidney and liver function.

Avian Flu Treatments: Different types of Avian Flu can cause different symptoms. As a result, treatments may vary.

In most cases, treatment with antiviral drugs such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza) can help reduce the severity of the illness. However, medication must be taken within 48 hours after symptoms first appear.

The virus that causes the human form of flu can develop resistance to the two most common forms of antiviral drugs, amantadine and rimantadine (Flumadine). These medications should not be used to treat the condition.

Your family or others in close contact with you may also be prescribed antivirals as a preventative measure, even if they are not sick. You will be placed in isolation to avoid spreading the virus to others.

Your doctor may put you on a breathing machine if you develop a serious infection .