Avian Flu
You may have heard media stories about avian flu in recent years. This rare flu virus was actually passed from an infected bird directly to a person in Hong Kong. Since then, this rare infection has made some individuals very sick. Avian flu is fatal for about half of the people diagnosed with the disease, which has killed a few hundred people since 2003. Symptoms of avian flu are similar to conventional flu, and include body aches, sore throat, fever and cough. To reduce your chance of contracting this virus always properly handle and cook poultry and avoid direct contact with infected individuals. If you have traveled to an area that has been hit by avian flu, and you develop flu symptoms, seek medical care immediately.
Recently Answered
- Q How do other illnesses affect avian flu?
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One of the dangers of avian flu is that few people if any have a natural immunity to it, but chronic diseases, such as diabetes, lung disease, heart disease, or kidney problems, increase your risk of getting any type of influenza, including avian flu,... Full Answer
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- Q What causes avian flu?
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Avian flu, or bird flu, occurs when a person is infected by a strain of influenza virus that normally infects birds. It is not very contagious from one to person to another. Unlike seasonal flu, it is usually spread by contact with infected birds.... Full Answer
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- Q What areas of the world are most affected by avian flu?
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So far, the areas of the world that have been most affected by avian flu (bird flu) are Asia and countries in the Near East. Indonesia, Vietnam, and Egypt have significant number of cases. Information on the current areas of avian flu activity, including... Full Answer
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- Q How common is avian flu?
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Among humans, cases of bird flu are very rare, and are mostly confined to people who have daily contact with poultry. There have been less than 100 sases of avian flu in humans annually since 2003, contrasted with cases of seasonal flu, which... Full Answer
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- Q How is avian flu diagnosed?
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Avian flu (bird flu) can be diagnosed by its symptoms, especially if you have had contact with infected birds or people and are experiencing flu symptoms. However, because this type of influenza can have serious complications, your doctor may use... Full Answer
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- Q Should I talk to my doctor about my avian flu symptoms?
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If you have been in contact with poultry, wild birds, or an infected person, and you have flu symptoms, you should see your doctor, as avian flu can be a serious disease in humans. Health officials usually track human cases of avian flu. In... Full Answer
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- Q Does avian flu affect children differently than adults?
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In general, influenza affects children differently than adults. In children, the fever associated with influenza is likely to be higher, on average, than an adult's fever. In addition, children more often experience symptoms related to the... Full Answer
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- Q What is avian influenza ("the bird flu")?
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Bird flu is an infection caused by a type of avian influenza virus. Although there are many types of bird flu, the type that now concerns health workers—because it is very serious and often fatal—is the H5N1 bird flu virus. Symptoms of bird... Full Answer
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- Q Can avian flu be prevented?
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The best way to prevent avian flu is to avoid coming into contact with the avian influenza virus. If you are traveling to an area of the world where there is bird flu, avoid birds and bird products, including those on farms and in markets. Washing your... Full Answer
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- Q What's being done to avoid a bird flu pandemic?
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Health officials in the United States and other Western countries are helping Asian nations manage avian flu and are working to keep it from spreading further. Here's some of what they're doing: Containing or destroying birds that appear to be infected.... Full Answer
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