Bird Flu Epidemic is one of the biggest scares the modern world is facing. Not only several hundreds of thousands birds, but also several humans have fallen prey to this seemingly inconspicuous virus. Here's everything you need to know about this problem.
Bird Flu Epidemic - Facts
Problem Definition:
Bird flu is an epidemic caused by a virus. The virus that causes it is called influenza A virus. This virus directly affects birds, but then from birds it can combine with the human influenza virus and thus enter into the human chain. In both birds and humans, it is a deadly virus that will cause death within a few hours.Symptoms:
The general symptoms seen in birds range from mild illness to a highly contagious and a very fatal disease, eventually resulting in an epidemic. The symptoms differ from one bird to another. Diarrhea, hard breathing, swollen heads and sudden deaths can also be visualized.Duration of Problem:
Bird flu does not last for more than a couple of hours, for the simple reason that the virus kills the organism.Exposure:
Bird flu can spread very rapidly and quickly through a population. Bird flu mostly infects the domesticated birds. If a migrating bird catches the flu, it can carry it around the world to whereever he flies. Water birds like the wild duck are believed to set bird flu. These viruses settle in the intestines of these birds and spread by the means of faeces, feathers, saliva and mucous.
Bird Flu Epidemic - Prevention & Treatment
The Treatment:
Several medicines are prescribed to treat and control an epidemic of bird flu. One of the most popular medicines is Tamiflu.Prevention:
For preventing an epidemic, the best solution is rapid elimination. The World Health Organizations recommends its best to kill the birds infected with the flu for preventing further spread to birds and human beings.Precautions:
Suffering birds should be immediately slaughtered. Human contact with the birds should be as less as possible. Also, healthy birds should be kept away. There have been instances all over the world where birds of an entire poultry farm have been slaughtered to keep the disease from spreading.Helpful Supplies:
Tamiflu is an important vaccine that controls bird flu in humans.
Bird Flu Epidemic - Concerns
Level of Seriousness:
This is the most serious medical problem of the current decade. Some health professionals have put this to be over AIDS in its severity as it can affect an entire population in a matter of days.Lasting Consequences:
Bird flu can have lasting socio-economic consequences. Poultry farmers can lose their livelihoods, people living close to birds can perish, the consequences are unimaginable.Genetics:
Till now, no genetic traits have been uncovered in relation to bird flu.Lifestyle Accommodations:
Total isolation and elimination is needed. There are no lifestyle accommodations for diseased birds.Expense:
The expenses of treating bird flu are mounting as more and more people are falling sick and the demand for the medicines is surpassing the supply.
