| Although wild birds carry the viruses, they | | | | humans, a swab of the nose or throat must be |
| are usually unaffected by symptoms of bird | | | | taken within the first few days after |
| flu. It is domesticated birds (chickens, | | | | suspected symptoms of bird flu are noticed or |
| ducks and turkeys) in which avian flu | | | | two separate blood tests must be taken to |
| symptoms cause sickness and sometimes death. | | | | confirm the presence of H5N1. One of a |
| The symptoms of bird flu in domesticated | | | | number of flu viruses that exist among birds. |
| poultry may be mild causing ruffled feathers | | | | Only H5N1 flu virus is believed to cause the |
| and low egg production or severe causing | | | | severe avian flu symptoms that have led to |
| disease that affects multiple organs and | | | | death in more than 50% of the confirmed |
| death in 90-100% of flocks in as little as 48 | | | | cases.While highly contagious among birds, |
| hours. It is believed that the degree of | | | | avian flu symptoms are not easily transmitted |
| difference in avian flu symptoms is related | | | | by human to human contact. The only |
| to the strain of the flu virus infecting the | | | | confirmed cases of avian flu caused by |
| birds.Avian flu symptoms do not usually occur | | | | contact with an infected person have been |
| in humans, however 239 confirmed cases have | | | | among family members who remained in close |
| been reported in humans since 2003, according | | | | contact with the person suffering from the |
| to statistics compiled by the World Health | | | | symptoms of the bird flu. This is unlike |
| Organization (WHO). 140 deaths worldwide | | | | seasonal flu and SARS which are highly |
| have been attributed to symptoms of the bird | | | | contagious viruses among humans. The concern |
| flu.Human cases of avian flu symptoms have | | | | over a pandemic (worldwide spread) arises |
| been reported in many countries in Asia and | | | | from the fact that viruses mutate. So, if |
| the Middle East, but most have occurred in | | | | the current avian bird flu virus were to |
| small villages and outlying areas of | | | | mutate into one that was highly contagious |
| Indonesia and Vietnam. Most confirmed cases | | | | then a worldwide outbreak of avian flu |
| of avian flu symptoms in humans resulted from | | | | symptoms could occur.If you do not have |
| contact with infected domesticated birds or | | | | contact with birds that are infected with the |
| contact with surfaces contaminated by the | | | | avian flu virus and you do not take care of |
| feces and fluids from infected birds. The | | | | people who have contracted the avian flu |
| symptoms of bird flu in humans are typical | | | | virus, then you will not develop symptoms of |
| flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, | | | | bird flu from the virus as it currently |
| cough and muscle aches. But, in some | | | | exists. If the virus should mutate to a more |
| confirmed human cases the symptoms of bird | | | | contagious form, you can still protect |
| flu have included eye infections, pneumonia, | | | | yourself from severe avian flu symptoms in |
| severe respiratory diseases, acute | | | | the same way that you would protect yourself |
| respiratory distress and other severe and | | | | from seasonal flu. While no one is sure why |
| life-threatening complications. The Center | | | | what appears to be the same virus would cause |
| for Disease Control (CDC) believes that the | | | | mild or moderate symptoms of bird flu in some |
| wide range of avian flu symptoms in humans | | | | people and death in others, it is known that |
| may depend on which strain of avian bird flu | | | | a healthy human immune system can fight off |
| virus the person was infected with.Avian flu | | | | most any flu bug in 7-10 days. To learn more |
| symptoms alone are not sufficient to confirm | | | | about products that can help you keep a |
| the diagnosis of avian influenza in humans or | | | | healthy immune system, visit Hamilton has |
| birds, because the symptoms of bird flu are | | | | more than twenty years experience as a health |
| so similar to typical flu symptoms and other | | | | care professional and currently writes |
| viral infections. In order to make a | | | | information articles for the Immune System |
| confirmed diagnosis of avian influenza in | | | | Booster Guide. |