Read About Bird Flu Protection

Bird Flu Protection is one of the most essential precautions to take when you house birds at home and, without due care, these birds can become fatally infected. Here's everything you need to know about this problem.

Bird Flu Protection - Facts

  1. Problem Definition:

    Bird Flu, otherwise known as Avian Influenza, is a highly contagious and fatal disease that spreads through contact with infected birds or through infected bird fluids. This infection affects many breeds of birds and also other pets such as cats. This viral infection affects even humans. This disease must be dealt with extreme precaution. There are two kinds of infections -- the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and the low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI).
  2. Symptoms:

    The symptoms seen are loss of appetite, surcease of egg laying, swelling of wattles, along with blue stains, diarrhea, sneezing, and depression. Many of these symptoms are common to other diseases also and, unless early diagnosis is rendered, the infection could quickly spread into an epidemic.
  3. Duration of Problem:

    Highly Pathogenic Influenza could bring about death within 48-hours. While low pathogenic influenza is nonfatal, it can mutate over time and turn into a highly pathogenic infection.
  4. Exposure:

    This is a contagious viral infection spread through contact with infected birds or through bird fluids such as saliva and droppings.

Bird Flu Protection - Prevention & Treatment

  1. The Treatment:

    Traces of influenza are evolving at a rapid pace, and they are being researched at an equal speed. Your vet will prescribe drugs depending on the infecting strain. The prevalent strain is H5N1 virus that is responsible for HPAI.
  2. Prevention:

    The most important thing for you to do is to confine your birds and pets during an epidemic. You should never let your pets come in contact with strays or wild birds. You should limit your pets availability to open bird baths and feeders, either in your garden or at public places. You should always check your garden thoroughly for pet dropping and cleaned it up immediately. It would be better if you changed the grass bed entirely after a breakout. By sheltering your bird enclosures to disallow wild bird droppings to fall into it from above, you will add an extra level protection to your animal.
  3. Precautions:

    You must isolate the infected member from the animal group immediately. You should then sanitize all the objects that the infected pet may have used. Once you have removed the infected birds food, you need to dispose of it and to NOT use it for other pets. You should contact your vet and seek professional assistance. It may be necessary to destroy the infected pet to prevent further infection and, consequently, an epidemic. For your own personal protection, you should always take care to wear gloves and sanitize your hands after cleaning handling anything connected to the infected bird.
  4. Helpful Supplies:

    Disinfectant is very useful.

Bird Flu Protection - Concerns

  1. Level of Seriousness:

    Avian influenza is an immediate fatal infection.
  2. Lasting Consequences:

    Birds that have recovered from the Avian influenza may show low production of eggs.
  3. Genetics:

    Domestic birds are more susceptible. Farms with numerous birds are in the most extreme danger of mass infection.
  4. Lifestyle Accommodations:

    An epidemic breakout will wreck havoc and, in some cases, you may have to destroy all the birds.
  5. Expense:

    The expense is variable with the level of infection. The cost of your birds could range from inexpensive treatment for low pathogenic infections to complete loss of life.