How did the avian flu start?
Avian influenza (strain H5N1) was first detected in humans in 1997 in Hong Kong, where it infected both chickens and people. This was the first time the avian influenza virus had ever been found to jump directly from birds to humans.
How did avian flu spread?
The disease is transmitted via contact with an infected bird’s feces, or secretions from its nose, mouth or eyes. Open-air markets, where eggs and birds are sold in crowded and unsanitary conditions, are hotbeds of infection and can spread the disease into the wider community.
Why is avian flu a concern?
Some avian influenza viruses have caused rare, sporadic infections in people, resulting in human illness ranging from mild to severe. These viruses are of public health concern because of their ability to cause human illness and also because of their potential to cause a pandemic.
What was strange about the avian flu?
Unlike normal seasonal influenza, where infection causes only mild respiratory symptoms in most people, the disease caused by H5N1 follows an unusually aggressive clinical course, with rapid deterioration and high fatality.
Is avian flu a pandemic?
The highly pathogenic influenza A virus subtype H5N1 is an emerging avian influenza virus that is causing global concern as a potential pandemic threat. It is often referred to simply as “bird flu” or “avian influenza”, even though it is only one of many subtypes.
When did bird flu end?
The outbreak involved an H5N2 virus (not the H5N1 bird flu). By April 2004, the outbreak had been eradicated.
Should we be worried about H5N8?
To answer the question posed in the headline, no, we shouldn’t fear the H5N8 avian influenza virus… yet. H5 viruses do not pose a direct threat to the health of the vast majority of humans on the planet, though they can cause widespread economic damage due to the infection and subsequent culling of poultry.
Is there a vaccine for the avian flu?
There is currently no vaccine available to the public. The government does have a supply of a vaccine for one type of H5N1 bird flu virus and could distribute it if there was an outbreak that spread easily from person to person.
Was the avian flu a pandemic?
The first outbreak of human infection by avian influenza viruses (H5N1) was observed in 1997 in Hong Kong. Since then a large number of outbreaks have been reported in different parts of the world. In fact, the spread of avian influenza H5N1 in various species including humans has lead to a current pandemic threat.
How many people died from the bird flu?
The consequences can be dramatic: The 1918 flu epidemic—which scientists believe was caused by an avian-like virus—killed 675,000 people in the United States in addition to its global death toll (see Table 1).
What are the symptoms of avian flu?
Avian flu (better known as bird flu) is a type of influenza that affects birds and in rare cases,can be passed on to humans.
What pathogen causes avian flu?
Bird flu is caused by strains of the influenza virus that have evolved to be specially adapted to enter avian cells. There are three main types of influenza: A, B, and C. The virus that causes bird flu is influenza A type with eight RNA strands that make up its genome.
What are some facts about bird flu?
Facts About Bird Flu. Many wild birds carry flu viruses that cause them no illness. These viruses sometimes mix and exchange genes, creating new strains. One group rapidly kills domestic chickens and some species of wild birds. The H5N1 virus is in this group.
How do you cure bird flu?
In most cases, treatment with antiviral medication such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza) can help reduce the severity of the disease. However, the medication must be taken within 48 hours after symptoms first appear.