Bird Flu

The bird flu is a type of influenza virus that breaks out among some birds. This type of virus very seldom affects humans. However, in the last few years, there have been more and more cases of the disease. The two strains of avian flu that have very frequently affected humans, H5N1 and H7N9, have been recognised to be the most dangerous strains of the virus. Humans are susceptible to avian influenza, which can be fatal to them.

There have been bird flu outbreaks in North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Bird flu in India has proven to be a major concern. Most people who have shown signs of the bird flu have been close to sick birds. Bird flu in humans can also be transmitted from one infected person to another. However, such cases are rare.

Health officials are concerned that a global pandemic might ensue if the bird flu virus evolves into a version that spreads more quickly from person to person.

Although there are other avian flu strains, H5N1 was the initial to infect people. The first outbreak took place in Hong Kong in 1997. Bird flu was caused by the handling of diseased chickens in this case.

H5N1 typically exists in wild waterfowl. However, it can quickly spread to farmed poultry. A common bird flu cause includes humans coming into contact with contaminated bird excrement, respiratory secretions, or eye or lip mucus secretion. Bird flu can also be caused if you live in very cold climates.

The bird flu cannot be contracted by eating cooked bird meat or eggs from sick birds. However, runny eggs must be avoided when bird flu is going around. When the meat reaches an interior temperature of about 165°F (73.9°C), it is deemed safe for consumption. Do not consume undercooked poultry meat.

After learning about what bird flu is caused by, let us look into some common risk factors associated with the disease.

• If you are a poultry farmer, you are at a greater risk of getting bird flu.

• Bird flu virus can remain active for 10 days. If you are working with poultry not kept in hygienic conditions, the risk of contracting bird flu increases.

• Travelling to places with an outbreak increases the risk of contracting bird flu.

• If you consume undercooked poultry meat or eggs.

• If you are living near an infected person and tending to them.

• If you are a healthcare worker taking care of an infected person.

• If you are exposed to birds that have been infected.

• Now that you know a little more about bird flu causes, let us look into the bird flu symptoms.

When it comes to catching the disease early is very important. If the disease is not treated within the first 48 hours of the patient contracting the illness, the chance of death increases significantly. The first thing to do regarding bird flu is to be aware. The symptoms of bird flu can often be very similar to a common cold or a viral fever. However, if you are aware of an outbreak of the disease around you, you should get tested as soon as you show any symptoms. Taking prompt action can sometimes be the difference between life and death.

The symptoms you should be on the lookout for include:

• Cough

• Running nose

• Headache

• Fatigue

• Malaise

• Stomach pain

• Nausea

• Sore throat

• Diarrhoea

• Seizures

• Confusion

• Difficulty in remembering events

• Roughness in the voice

• Pain in the chest area

• High fever

• Blood in the cough

• Trembling

• Troubled breathing

• Conjunctivitis

If you notice you or someone in your proximity has developed these symptoms, and there has been a recent outbreak of bird flu close to you, you must see a doctor as soon as you can.

When it comes to bird flu, your doctor will diagnose you based on your symptoms and the severity of your symptoms. There are multiple ways in which your doctor can confirm if you have bird flu or the regular flu. Some ways to confirm the disease include;

• The first thing your doctor will ask for is probably an A/H5 virus real-time RT-PCR test. This test detects the flu antibodies in your system by a culture of your sputum and nasal mucous.

• The next thing your doctor will want to see is the severity of your condition. They will ask you to undergo a chest X-Ray to see how far your lungs have been affected.

• Your doctor might also ask you for blood tests to see the count of your white blood tests and various other counts showing how far the infection has progressed.

• In some rare cases, your doctor may ask you for a CT scan.

• Your doctor may also use Auscultation, a test to check how well you are breathing and if there is any abnormality in your breathing.

As we have already stated above, when it comes to the bird flu virus, it is important to get treatment within the first 48 hours. Not getting treatment at the right time can lead to severe complications and even death in some cases. When your doctor is treating you, they will treat you according to your symptoms. If your symptoms have progressed rapidly and you have developed Sepsis, Pneumonia or multi-organ failure owing to the virus, they will first try to provide you with treatment to reverse the symptoms. You may have to be given oxygen if you are having trouble breathing on your own or if you are having excessive coughing. You may even have to get emergency surgery if you have organ failure or if any of your vital organs are in danger. However, these are more extreme cases; it does not have to come to this if you get treatment in time and be cautious.

You will be given anti-viral medication like Tamiflu and Relenza when treating the virus. These will help you battle the disease and make a full recovery. Suppose your doctor notices that you are on the verge of falling very ill owing to your symptoms and need the medicines in your body quickly. In that case, they may choose to admit you and administer the antivirals intravenously. Amantadine and rimantadine are common antiviral drugs. However, they should not be given to patients because the virus can potentially resist these drugs.

If you have been exposed to the virus and are showing symptoms of the disease, your doctors might suggest isolation until the completion of your medication to prevent the spread of the virus. People close to an infected person might also be advised to take the full dose of medication to avoid risks.

Prevention is often said to be better than a cure, which is true in the case of the bird flu virus. While preventing the onset of bird flu is difficult, it is not impossible. Avoiding the virus is easier because it does not transmit easily among human beings. If you are careful in some aspects and follow some basic guidelines, you can avoid the virus completely.

Some ways to prevent the onset of bird flu are:

• Be aware of an outbreak of the virus around you, especially if you work in the poultry business.

• Keep your poultry clean.

• Wash your hands regularly with soap or use a hand sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol.

• If you are travelling to a place with open poultry farms, use a face mask and avoid going very close to poultry.

• If you deal in poultry meat, wash your hands and the cutting board whenever you work with a fresh piece of meat.

• Do not heap meat one over another.

• Do not consume uncooked or undercooked poultry meat.

• Do not consume raw or runny eggs, and stay away from the shell of the egg when eating out.

• There is a vaccine for bird flu available in the US. However, that vaccine is not available in India. If the vaccine becomes available at any time, take the vaccine promptly.

Bird flu in India can be very unpredictable and can also give rise to other diseases. Getting the right treatment and nipping the virus in the bud is the only way forward with a disease like bird flu. Now, like with most influenza-**like diseases, you may never know what disease you are suffering from until it is too late and you need hospitalisation. In such situations, having a medical insurance plan is very helpful.

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