Basic Facts on Avian Bird Flu

Avian influenza (Avian Bird Flu) is caused by bird flu viruses. These viruses occur naturally among wild birds, and the birds generally do not get sick from them.

However, it is very contagious, and can make some domesticated birds, such as chickens, and ducks, very sick, and can be fatal. Birds that are infected with Avian Bird Flu shed the virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces.

Domesticated birds can become infected by coming in contact with infected birds, or through materials, like water and feed, that have been infected, or surfaces, like dirt or cages.

There are many subtypes of type A influenza viruses. These subtypes differ due to changes in some proteins on the surface of the virus.

Usually, “avian influenza virus” refers to influenza viruses found mostly in birds, but these viral infections can occur in humans as well. The risk of avian bird flu is usually low to most people, because the viruses usually don’t infect humans, but there have been confirmed cases in humans since 1997.

Most cases in humans of avian bird flu have come from contact with infected domesticated birds like chickens, ducks, or geese, or surfaces contaminated from infected birds.

During an outbreak of avian bird flu among domesticated birds, there is a possible risk to people who have come into contact with infected surfaces or secretions or excretions from infected birds.

There are a few avian bird flu viruses that have crossed species to infect humans, and H5N1 has caused the biggest number of cases of severe disease and death in people.

With the current outbreaks, mostly in Asia and Europe, more than half of the people who were infected with the virus have died, and most cases have been found in children and young adults who were otherwise healthy before becoming infected with the avian bird influenza virus.

Because viruses can sometimes mutate and change, scientists are concerned that this virus may one day change and be able to be spread easily from person to person.

Because the virus does not usually infect humans, there is little to no immune protection against them. If this avian influenza virus were to gain the capacity to spread from human to human, a pandemic could occur.

A pandemic is an epidemic (an outbreak of an infectious disease) that geographically spreads world wide or at least across a large region.

There is no way to accurately predict when a pandemic could occur, but scientists at health organizations world wide are beginning to prepare for such a pandemic.

Currently, the virus that has caused human illness is resistant to antiviral medications, such as amantadine and rimantadine that are usually used to treat influenza.

There are a few antiviral drugs that scientists think could be useful in fighting avian bird flu, but no tests have been performed. Another concern is that viruses often develop resistance to medications.

There is currently no vaccine commercially available to protect humans against this avian influenza virus.