|
|
What is Bird Flu?
Home » Diseases » Bird Flu » What is Bird Flu?Bird Flu, also referred to as Avian influenza, is a virus that is carried by wild birds. The virus is usually carried inside the bird's intestines. Although birds may have the virus, they don't get sick from it. The avian influenza virus is very contagious and can spread from bird to bird easily. Birds such as chickens, turkeys, and geese have been known to get very sick and die from having the flu. Other areas that birds can carry the virus are in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. When another bird comes in contact with any type of secretion, they can get contaminated.
There are two forms of the virus: low and high virulence. If a bird has the low pathogenic form, the bird may only experience symptoms as ruffled feathers and a drop in egg production. However the higher pathogenic state causes death within 48 hours.
At this time, there are many different strains of the virus. Right now there are 25 known types of the virus strain. In normal circumstances, the bird flu or influenza does not cause harm to humans. But there have been cases of humans getting symptoms of the virus and even dying from it. These humans who did get the virus had come in direct contact with infected birds or areas of contamination. So far there has been no vaccine to fight against the virus, since most of these viruses mutate and become immune to the vaccines. A French vaccine maker has produced what may be a vaccine for the virus, but further study is needed to confirm its effectiveness.
Related Bird Flu Articles
- Bird Flu Overview
- What is Bird Flu?
- What are the Symptoms and Causes of Bird Flu?
- What are the Complications and Treatments for the Bird Flu?