| Avian influenza is a virus infection that normally | | | | infected with avian influenza. |
| occurs in wild birds and pathologically in poultry, its | | | | Some people say: Why worry about Bird flu? |
| forms causing mild symptoms or even death within | | | | We should worry because: |
| 48 hours. It can also infect humans. | | | | - H5N1 virus has caused by now millions of bird |
| Wild birds are a reservoir of the virus and they | | | | deaths, and hundreds of humans only in Asia; |
| spread the disease among the poultry which gets | | | | - If the virus mutates it will spread from human to |
| into close contact to contaminated dirt, water, food | | | | human, causing a global pandemic; |
| and wild bird excrements. | | | | - Chicken industry will be seriously affected. |
| The avian influenza viruses can cause a mild form of | | | | Until now, in treating avian influenza, doctors have |
| the disease that does not kill the infected birds, and | | | | used antiviral drugs obtaining good results, and they |
| it only reduces the egg production, and a highly | | | | are waiting for the accreditation of a H5N1 vaccine. |
| virulent form that can lead to death within 48 hours | | | | Doctors have discovered that H5N1 virus is resistant |
| by multiple internal organ lesions. | | | | amantadine and rimantadine, two antiviral drugs used |
| Until 1997 nobody knew that the virus can affect | | | | for treating human influenza. There remain |
| humans, but it has happened to those who have | | | | oseltamavir and zanamavir to be tested. |
| been in close contact with infected poultry. Until now, | | | | If you have a flock of chickens it is not necessarily |
| no cases of human to human transmission of the | | | | to remove them because in the US no cases of bird |
| infection were registered. | | | | flu were registered among poultry. But you need to |
| Getting in close contact with an infected bird can lead | | | | be careful and report any sudden deaths you |
| to human contamination. People that take care or sell | | | | observe in your poultry to the Minister of Agriculture. |
| in markets such infected birds, like chicken, turkey | | | | Hunters are also advised not to eat sick game, to |
| and ducks, inhale particles from dried excrements, or | | | | wear some plastic or rubber protection when handling |
| feathers which are contaminated. | | | | the game, and to cook very well their game. |
| Eating cooked chicken is not dangerous because heat | | | | In case of a bird flu infection, the government will |
| kills the H5N1 virus. | | | | prohibit selling chickens in the markets while there is a |
| If you have been lately in close contact with one ore | | | | threat of bird flu and also will suspend the imports of |
| more infected birds, you could develop one or more | | | | chicken from the infected countries; will advise people |
| of these symptoms: fever, lethargy, sore throat, | | | | to stay away from any kind of birds; will ask farmers |
| muscle aches, cough, breathing problems, and | | | | to report any suspect deaths observed on poultry. |
| multi-organ failure, meaning that you have been | | | | |