🐔 Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
Avian influenza is a viral infection caused by influenza type A viruses that primarily affect birds but can occasionally infect humans and other animals. Certain strains, like H5N1 and H7N9, have caused serious illness in people.
🧬 Causes & Transmission:
- Spread among birds through saliva, nasal secretions, and feces
- Human infection is rare and usually occurs through:
- Direct contact with infected birds (alive or dead)
- Contaminated surfaces or environments (e.g., live bird markets)
- Not usually spread person to person, but rare limited human transmission has been reported
🩺 Symptoms in Humans:
- Fever and chills
- Cough and sore throat
- Muscle aches
- Difficulty breathing
- Eye infections (in some strains)
- Severe cases: pneumonia, acute respiratory distress, organ failure
🔍 Diagnosis:
- Nasal or throat swab tested for influenza A virus and subtypes
- Blood tests and chest imaging in severe cases
💊 Treatment:
- Antiviral medications (most effective when started early):
- Oseltamivir (Tamiflu)
- Zanamivir
- Supportive care: fluids, oxygen, intensive care for severe illness
⚠️ Complications:
- Respiratory failure
- Multi-organ failure
- High fatality rate in some strains (especially H5N1)
🛡️ Prevention:
- Avoid direct contact with live or dead poultry in outbreak areas
- Don’t visit live animal markets in affected regions
- Cook poultry and eggs thoroughly
- Use protective gear if working with birds
- Surveillance and culling of infected birds during outbreaks
- No universal vaccine for the public (some vaccines are available for high-risk groups and poultry workers)