Bird Flu

Bird Flu
Also called: Avian flu, Avian influenza, H5N1, H7N9
Birds, just like people, get the flu. Bird flu viruses infect birds, including chickens, other poultry, and wild birds
such as ducks. Usually bird flu viruses only infect other birds. It is rare for people to get infected with bird flu
viruses, but it can happen. Two types, H5N1 and H7N9, have infected some people during outbreaks in Asia,
Africa, the Pacific, the Middle East, and parts of Europe. There have also been some rare cases of other types
of bird flu affecting people in the United States.
Most of the people who get bird flu have had close contact with infected birds or with surfaces that have been
contaminated by the birds' saliva, mucous, or droppings. It is also possible to get it by breathing in droplets or
dust that contain the virus. Rarely, the virus has spread from one person to another. It may also be possible to
catch bird flu by eating poultry or eggs that are not well cooked.
Bird flu illness in people can range from mild to severe. Often, the symptoms are similar to the seasonal flu, such as
Fever
Cough
Sore throat
Runny or stuffy nose
Muscle or body aches
Fatigue
Headaches
Eye redness - conjunctivitis
Difficulty breathing
In some cases, bird flu can cause serious complications and death. As with seasonal flu, some people are at
higher risk for serious illness. They include pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems, and
seniors aged 65 and older.
Treatment with antiviral medicines may make the illness less severe. They may also help prevent the flu in
people who were exposed to it. There is currently no vaccine available to the public. The government does have
a supply of a vaccine for one type of H5N1 bird flu virus and could distribute it if there was an outbreak that
spread easily from person to person.