Symptoms of Bird Flu

As of December 2005, the bird flu virus has claimed the lives of 65 individuals.  This number is expected to grow over the course of 2006.  The bird flu is said to have originated in wild birds.  In wild birds it is not lethal.  Once the virus infects domestic poultry it becomes lethal; killing the affected birds as rapidly as in 48 hours after infection.  Infection of humans by the virus is currently limited to bird to person infection.  If an individual comes in contact with nasal secretions, saliva or feces of an infected bird, or comes in contact with a contaminated surface or material, there is likelihood that the individual will contract the bird flu virus and the disease.  By knowing the symptoms of bird flu in the poultry and humans one can take the precautions to avoid contracting or spreading the disease. 
 

Symptoms of bird flu in poultry

If your poultry are less active, show a decrease in egg production, internal bleeding, diarrhea, and there are sudden deaths within the flocks with facial swelling and changes in the chicken wattle color, you probably have bird flu virus in you flock.

Symptoms of Bird flu in humans

Infection by the H5N1 virus in humans is characterized by a rapid decline in health of the infected individual.  The specific symptoms are difficult to pinpoint because the virus is mutating (changing its genetic make up) rapidly and manifesting itself with different symptoms.  Once a person is infected by the H5N1 virus it takes two to eight days before the disease symptoms are observed.  This is the virus incubation period.  The first symptoms the infected individual feels are the typical flu like symptoms; high temperatures above 38C, diarrhea, pain in the abdomen, and nose and gum bleeding.  These symptoms vary from patient to patient depending on the virus type they were infected with.  The common symptom seen in most of infected individuals is respiratory distress.  This is perceived as difficulty breathing and a crackling sound in the chest when the infected individual inhales.  In some cases the sputum is bloody or blood tinted.  The infected individual goes on to develop viral pneumonia which does not respond to antibiotics.  Once infected H5N1 virus it takes only four to thirteen days before the infected individual develops acute respiratory distress or failure leading to death.  The kidney and heart also start to fail in some individuals.  There are some antiviral drugs that are available namely, Tamiflu which was supposed to reduce the viral replication of the bird flu if administered within 48 hours of symptoms starting.  Unfortunately the drug has recently been proven ineffective against the latest H5N1 strain.  If you experience any of the symptoms and have been in contact with suspect infected then chances are you may have the bird flu; seek medical attention immediately. 

Reducing the risks for contracting bird flu

An individual can contracting Bird flu by avoiding contact with sick birds and surfaces that have contaminated.  As mentioned earlier the virus spreads person to infected bird contact.  There are limited cases of person to person contact so this isn’t considered a risk yet.