Avian Influenza

Avian Influenza

Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is a viral infection primarily affecting birds. However, there is a risk that the virus can undergo mutations, allowing it to infect humans, potentially sparking a deadly global pandemic.

The first instance of avian influenza crossing to humans was documented in Hong Kong in 1997, associated with chickens and identified as avian influenza A (H5N1). Human cases of this strain have been reported across Asia, Africa, Europe, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Pacific, and the Near East. This virus has caused illness in hundreds of people, with a mortality rate of slightly over 60%.

The spread of the avian flu virus raises concerns about the possibility of a widespread human outbreak. H5N1 is particularly worrisome due to its potential to trigger a pandemic.

Individuals at higher risk of contracting bird flu include poultry farmers and workers, travelers to affected regions, those in contact with infected birds, and individuals consuming raw or undercooked poultry products from infected sources. Healthcare workers and household contacts of infected patients are also at an elevated risk.

The avian flu virus (H5N1) can persist in the environment for extended periods, and infection can occur through contact with contaminated surfaces or exposure to infected birds' feces and saliva.

Symptoms of avian flu infection in humans vary depending on the virus strain. Common symptoms of H5N1 infection include cough, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, fever, headache, malaise, muscle aches, runny nose, and sore throat.

Diagnostic tests for avian flu are available but not widely accessible. Timely administration of antiviral medications like oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza) within 48 hours of symptom onset may reduce the severity of the illness. However, the virus has shown resistance to amantadine and rimantadine. Severe cases may require respiratory support, and isolation is recommended for diagnosed individuals.

Vaccination against seasonal influenza is recommended to minimize the risk of human-bird flu virus reassortment. The U.S. FDA has approved a vaccine for avian flu, which could be utilized in the event of human-to-human transmission of the H5N1 virus.