Bird flu is caused by a rare type of influenza virus that rarely infects humans. More than a dozen types of bird flu have been identified including the H5N1 and H5N6 strains. Avian influenza can be deadly when it strikes humans. The Asian flu epidemic of 1957 and Hong Kong flu of 1968 are now viewed as having an avian origin.
Close contact with sick birds is the usual cause of bird flu symptoms in people. Only sporadic cases have been reported since 2015 but they have occurred in Asia, Africa, North America, and parts of Europe. A global outbreak could occur if a bird flu strain mutates into a form that is easier to transmit from person to person.
Signs and symptoms of bird flu may begin between two to seven days of infection. The symptoms usually resemble those of typical influenza including cough, fever, sore throat, muscle ache, headache, and shortness of breath. Some people experience nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Bird flu occurs naturally in wild waterfowl and can spread naturally to domestic poultry. It is transmitted through contact with an infected bird’s feces or secretions from its nose, mouth, or eyes.
H5N1 Bird Flu Strain in the Philippines
The first cases of H5N1 infection were found in January in provinces rich in poultry business, namely Bulacan and Pampanga. The department said additional cases were recorded in early February. BAI director Reildrin Morales said the strain had not yet been found in chickens and turkeys.
Quarantine zones have been placed around infected farms to stop the virus from spreading and being transmitted to humans. Agriculture Secretary William Dar assures the public that the risk of humans catching the H5N1 strain is very low.
Key Takeaways
- The H5N1 strain has been detected in duck and quail farms in Pampanga province and a village in Rizal.
- More than a dozen types of avian influenza have been detected.
- Bird flu can be deadly when it strikes humans, but infection is low.
- Bird flu can be transmitted through contact with an infected bird’s feces or secretions from its nose, mouth, or eyes.
For more on other Viral Infections, click here.
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