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What is avian flu?
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Avian flu among birds2
Avian flu is an infection caused by bird flu viruses. These influenza type A viruses occur naturally among birds.
Wild birds worldwide carry the viruses in their intestines but usually do not get sick from them. However, avian
flu is very contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds (including chickens, ducks, and turkeys)
very sick and kill them.
Infected birds shed flu virus in their:
- saliva
- nasal secretions
- feces
Susceptible birds become infected when they have contact with contaminated secretions or excretions or with surfaces
that are contaminated with secretions or excretions from infected birds.
Domesticated birds may become infected with avian flu virus through direct contact with infected waterfowl or other
infected poultry, or through contact with surfaces (such as dirt or cages) or materials (such as water or feed) that
have been contaminated with the virus.
Avian flu among humans2
The risk from avian flu is generally low among most people because the viruses do not usually infect humans.
However, confirmed cases of human infection from several subtypes of avian flu infection have been reported.
Most cases of avian flu infection in humans have resulted from contact with infected poultry, such as:
- domesticated chickens
- ducks
- turkeys
- surfaces contaminated with secretions/excretions from infected birds
The spread of avian flu viruses from one ill person to another has been reported rarely and the cases are still
unconfirmed. The transmission of this infection has not been observed to continue beyond one person.
If the virus mutates to allow easy spread from one person to another, thousands, even millions of people can
become infected, resulting in a pandemic.
The symptoms of avian flu may depend on which virus caused the infection. Known symptoms in humans have included:
- typical human flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches)
- eye infections
- pneumonia
- severe respiratory diseases (such as acute respiratory distress)
- other severe and life-threatening complications
Find out what the differences are between the avian flu and pandemic flu.
Learn why experts are concerned about the avian flu.
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