Bird Flu, which is also known as avian influenza, avian flu, influenzavirus A flu, or type A flu, comes from an influenza virus that is hosted by birds. However this flu may also spread to mammals including humans.

 

A little known fact is that many wild birds around the planet carry the influenza virus in their intestines, and usually do not become ill. However, domesticated birds can die from this very contagious virus. It spreads through contact with any body secretions/excretions – this could be excrement, saliva or nasal fluid. The contact does not need to be direct; for instance excrement from an infected bird into water can contaminate a very large area and spread the virus to other birds swimming or drinking in the vicinity. Birds most likely to become ill and die of this virus are chickens, turkeys, ducks and swans.

 

These bird influenza viruses are known collectively as influenza A viruses.

 

However there are many sub-types of influenza A viruses.

 

When most people use the term bird flu or avian flu they are actually referring to a specific sub-type: Influenza A (H5N1) virus.

 

This is the most severe of only a very few avian influenza viruses that have crossed over to infect people. Looking at the most recent outbreaks in Asia and Europe, over 50% of those people who have become infected with the virus have not survived. The majority of those who have caught this virus have been otherwise healthy.

 

In a severe outbreak of Influenza A (H5N1) virus amongst birds, the only people at risk are those who have been directly in contact with the infected creatures i.e. might have come in contact with excretions or infected water. At the minute there has been little evidence to support the theory that this virus will spread from human to human. Nearly all people infected so far have been directly infected by birds and have not spread the virus on to other humans.

 

What experts are concerned about is that if there is a widespread outbreak amongst local domesticated birds, there may be a chance of the virus mutating into a variant that does infect and spread between people.

 

Symptoms of bird flu in humans range from coughs, sore throats, respiratory difficulties, fever and other human-flu symptoms to more severe symptoms.

 

Antiviral drugs are often effective in both preventing and treating the infection. These drugs include oseltamivir, zanamivir and amantadine. Since the most recent asian outbreaks of bird flu, many countries have begun stockpiling olestamivir which is a neuraminidase inhibitor used in the treatment and prophylaxis of both influenza A and influenza B. Oseltamivir was the first orally active neuraminidase inhibitor commercially developed. The drug was developed by Gilead Sciences and is marketed by Hoffman-La Roche (Roche) under the trade name Tamiflu®.

 

Tamiflu® is said to be effective in treating those people whose symptoms have begun in the last 48 hours. It has been proven effective in reducing the chance of susceptible people from contracting the virus.