Many do not care to know more about diseases other than those that frequently affect them and those they love like the cold fevers, venereal infections and the like.
Nevertheless, it is important to learn about some of the serious ones like bird flu, which is not very common in many corners of the world.
I know one may ignore because they do not live somewhere near birds of any type, but another person who does may catch and spread it.
What is bird flu?
This is an infection caused by avian or bird, influenza or flu, viruses. These viruses are said to occur naturally among birds, but those of the wild carry them in their intestines without them experiencing any harm.
The problem is that this is very contagious among all birds, but if those domesticated like chicken, turkeys, ducks catch the virus, their health deteriorate very fast and soon dies.
The owner of these domestic birds may then be subjected to the risk as is to be mentioned later on this article.
Types of domestic bird flu
The birds you have domesticated can either catch low pathogenic or high pathogenic forms of bird flu.
The two are differentiated by low and high extremes of virus attack. The low pathogenic form might be undetected and typically will cause mild symptoms like a drop in egg production and/or messy feathers.
High pathogenic on other hand spreads swiftly through group of poultry and may result to an ailment that affects many internal organs and highly fatal to the birds.
How does human become victims of bird flu viruses?
Many cases of avian flu infection in humans have resulted from direct or close contact with infected poultry like domesticated chicken, ducks and so on.
They could also get infected if they touch contaminated surfaces with secretions and excretions from sick birds.
What signs should tell humans are infected?
The signs of bird flu in humans have varied from usual influenza symptoms such as fever, sore throat, muscle aches and cough to eye infections, severe respiratory ailments (respiratory distress syndrome), and pneumonia among other life pressuring problems.
What is imperative to note is that the signs will depend on the specific virus subtype and strain causing the disease.
Diagnosis of bird flu
The biggest mistake any one would make is trying his lack to heal his disease thinking that it could be the usual flu.
Taking a step to visit the doctor is the way forward. He or she will take you through a laboratory test to confirm avian influenza in humans.
Implications of bird flu to human’s health
There are two key risks human health is exposed to from avian influenza. First, direct infection may occur when the virus passes from the infected bird to humans, at times leading to severe ailment.
Secondly, there is the risk that the virus, if offered perfect conditions will turn in to a form that is highly infectious from one human to other humans.
Treatment of avian flu in humans
Laboratory facts suggest that prescribed drugs approved for human influenza viruses should also work in treating bird flu infections in them.
The biggest problem though is that they may become resistant to these medications and they may not work.
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An original article by Esteri Maina onBIRD FLU