| How can you know whether your or a loved one has | | | | Bird flu can also cause: |
| bird flu or just a case of ordinary flu? That's not a | | | | Stomach ache Vomiting - including blood Severe |
| simple question to answer. | | | | headaches Bone aches Severe fatigue lasting longer |
| Frankly, the only 100% way is to have body | | | | than ordinary flu Stuffy nose Dizziness Diarrhea |
| secretions tested by a World Health Organization | | | | During the first one or two days, bird flu will look |
| (WHO) laboratory such as the U.S. Center for | | | | exactly like ordinary flu. |
| Disease Control in Atlanta Georgia. There are also | | | | The big difference -- and danger -- from its |
| such laboratories in Melbourne Australia and London | | | | development. Bird flu tends to cause much more |
| England. | | | | severe breathing problems than ordinary flu, plus |
| Obviously, they are not available to just any and | | | | triggers a much more severe counteraction by your |
| every household and clinic with a flu patient. Right | | | | body's immune system. |
| now there're probably overwhelmed with testing new | | | | This can result in a fever that's high enough to be |
| and suspected cases in Southeast Asia, Europe and | | | | dangerous in itself. |
| Africa. | | | | If you or your loved one develops a high fever and |
| If you have good reason to believe that you have | | | | or difficulty breathing, definately see a doctor as |
| been exposed to bird flu, then you should go right | | | | soon as possible. Or any of the other symptoms |
| away to a clinic or hospital to be tested and get the | | | | associated with just bird flu. Whether you've got bird |
| care you'll need if your case becomes severe. | | | | flu or not, you need professional medical care. |
| You have good reason to believe you have been | | | | Last November 2005, a biotech company in |
| exposed to bird flu if you live in or have travelled | | | | Singapore named Rockeby announced that they'd |
| recently in SouthEast/South Asia, the Mid-East, | | | | come up with a quick test for bird flu. |
| Europe or Africa. Especially if you work with or | | | | According to WHO, their test is not proven yet. You |
| around chickens or you have been around chickens. | | | | can get more information on it from searching Google |
| That is, to a chicken market or to a cock fight | | | | for Rockeby. |
| (where chicken blood and other fluids and sprayed | | | | WHO has said they are working on a standard test |
| through the air and onto the audience.) And also if | | | | for bird flu, but that has not come out yet. Until it |
| you've eaten any undercooked chicken or eggs from | | | | does, they say the only recognized tests for bird flu |
| those areas. | | | | must be done by their laboratories. |
| If you are in those areas and feeling very sick, get | | | | And of course, my final piece of advice should be |
| medical attention immediately even if you have not | | | | obvious. |
| been exposed to chickens. You never know -- when | | | | When there's an all-out pandemic of contagious bird |
| bird flu becomes highly contagious, somebody is going | | | | flu anywhere in the world and you start feeling sick |
| to be the first victim to have no exposure to | | | | with the flu -- assume it is bird flu. |
| chickens. I hope it's not you, but I don't know that. | | | | Treat yourself or your loved one accordingly. Get |
| Right now, those of us who live in North or South | | | | professional medical care. |
| America have no direct exposure to bird flu. But of | | | | Even if bird flu has not been reported in your country |
| course that will eventually change. And it's possible | | | | or your area, assume you've got it. A pandemic of |
| somebody could catch it from a migrating duck. | | | | contagious bird flu will make people ill in new areas |
| For example, near my apartment there's a small | | | | before you hear about them on the news. |
| municipal park with a nice pond stocked with fish . . . | | | | Besides, while ordinary flu is not dangerous for |
| and ducks love it! In nice weather hundreds of people | | | | ordinary adults, it still kills 30-50,000 Americans every |
| especially children are exposed to ducks and their | | | | year and tens of thousands more people around the |
| manure. | | | | world -- so it's still a serious disease. |
| The difficult thing is that bird flu is, first of all, | | | | Whether you have bird flu or ordinary flu, treat |
| influenza. It infects the cells lining your respiratory | | | | yourself well, get proper medical care -- and do not |
| tract and therefore causes symptoms that are much | | | | attempt to go to work or anyplace besides a doctor. |
| the same as ordinary flu: | | | | Whatever virus you've got, do us all a favor and |
| Fatigue Coughing Sneezing Muscle pain High fever | | | | don't spread it around. |
| Sore throat Conjunctivitis -- pink eye | | | | |