The Bird Flu – Facts About It
If you have paid attention to the news and health alerts since 1997, then you have undoubtedly heard about the bird flu. Avian influenza is a devastating disease for domesticated fowl. One of its variations can have a mortality rate of 90-100% in 48 hours. Yes, this is devastating for farmers but it has become a world wide concern because avian influenza has begun to infect humans, for some unknown reason. It typically should not but there have been many cases when it has. This has the world wide medical community worried.
Wild birds typically carry the bird flu in their intestines. It never manifests itself; it is just present. It is when these wild birds come into contact with domesticated birds that the infection becomes rampant. The virus is passed through saliva, feces or other secretions. Wild birds use the feeders and then domesticated birds become infected. Researchers and scientists place avian influenza into two categories: low pathogenic and high pathogenic. Low pathogenic cases usually produce no symptoms and if it does it may be just ruffled feathers or a decrease in egg production. In a high pathogenic case, the bird becomes sick quite fast and the virus is fatal.
The problem with containing and eradicating the virus is that a wild bird comes into contact with a wide expanse of area. It increases the range in which researchers have to work to clear the virus. The Center for Disease Control’s website has a very detailed section regarding this growing problem. With more humans coming down with avian influenza, it worries the rest of the world. The virus spreads very quickly and if it should become a common human contagion, the world could be looking at serious repercussions. Luckily, most cases of avian influenza in humans has resulted from coming into direct contact with a contaminated bird. And even then the odds are quite low of becoming infected. As of yet there have not been any confirmed cases of the virus being passed from one human to the next.
The best tool you can have to combat this disease in both yourself and your birds is information. You can find tons of misinformation about the bird flu from unreliable sources but if you want the straight facts about avian influenza, then you need to go to the Center for Disease Control’s website at www.cdc.gov. The website has all the information that you need to be informed.
