The Asian bird flu has begun as a bird flu but has started to affect humans. The first human case was reported in 1997. Though it is difficult for humans to contract the flu from birds, it has been documented in a number of cases since that time. Here's everything you need to know about the Asian bird flu.
What is Asian Bird Flu?
Asian bird flu is an illness that happens naturally in some birds and farm animals. Many animals have been killed because they have been affected by this disease and can't be saved or used as a food source. It can wipe out an enitre flock. It can be devastating to a farmer if his chickens, turkeys and ducks become infected. Yet these same birds pose a risk to the farmer with the right contact.
The Risk of Asian Bird Flu to People
Though it is difficult for people to contract Asian bird flu, some cases started to occur in 1997 and there have been numerous reports made since then. We can't catch this disease by handing birds or farm animals or by eating things like cooked chicken. The birds are contagous though through their saliva and their feces. If we were to come into contact with the saliva or feces of an infected bird, we would be at risk of contacting the symptoms. One example is for a farmer to come in contact with broken down feces on his farm that had been infected. He would be more likely to get the Asian bird flu than the majority of the population.
What are the Smyptoms of the Asian Bird Flu in Humans?
The infection can be hard to detect in humans because it mirrors human influenza. It has many of the same symptoms including: fever, cough, sore throat, head ache, muscle aches and more. It can also cause eye infections, pneumonia and respiratory disease. The flu can cause death in both birds and humans.
Fear of an Asian Bird Flu Outbreak
Though some humans have contracted the Asian bird flu, it is rare and no one expects a full pandemic to come from it. Authorities say that there is no cause for alarm and, in general, there is no real concern for an outbreak of the Asian bird flu. Sinc ethe risk is low, most people do not need to worry about getting the Asian bird flu.
