Bird Flu

Bird flu, or the avian influenza virus, has become a common concern for people in America. While bird flu does not generally affect humans, there have been at least 200 reported cases of humans being infected with bird flu since 1997. The World Health Organization keeps reports on bird flu cases through a situation update that is available on their website.

Bird flu symptoms can range from classic flu symptoms such as cough, fever, sore throat, muscle aches and pains and eye infections. Symptoms also mimic more severe respiratory ailments like pneumonia and other acute respiratory diseases.

Although bird flu is naturally carried in the intestines of wild birds it usually has no effect on them. The problem arises when domesticated birds like chickens and turkeys come in contact with the avian influenza virus. The bird flu is very contagious and can spread rapidly causing death to a flock of birds within 48 hours. Bird flu is spread through saliva and fecal matter that can contaminate an area very quickly through contact with these secretions. Birds that are kept in outdoor pens and cages are susceptible through contamination in the dirt or drinking water.

The bird flu affects people who are in direct contact with infected birds, contaminated dirt, or the water containers that these birds have used. The CDC suggests that people who are in close proximity to these types of situations use rubber gloves when handling or cleaning the drinking containers or other surfaces if an outbreak of bird flu has infected the area. Transmission from one person to another has been extremely rare.

If you feel you are in a high risk area for bird flu, you may want to wear a protective mask as well as rubber gloves when you are working with birds that may be infected with the virus.

Prescription medications for the human influenza virus may work in treating the bird flu virus. Virus strains are often known to become resistant to medicines causing them to have no effect on the virus.
One main concern from the Center for Disease Control is that bird flu will evolve into a form that spreads from one person to another and becomes highly infectious.

The Hype

In researching the bird flu, I discovered numerous amounts of people trying to make money off people who are concerned about this virus. There were websites selling survival kits, a book that tells of a natural cure for bird flu and various other garbage that people are trying to panhandle. Many people will give their hard earned money buying into these schemes. If there really is a natural cure for the bird flu, why not share that information freely instead of trying to sell the book at Amazon. If people need to be stocking up on supplies then give them a list of things they will need instead of selling your survival kit.

It never ceases to amaze me the tactics some people will use to make money. If we do enter a pandemic from bird flu do they not realize their fast money will not do them any good? When everyone is at home with the bird flu there will be no stores open to spend the money in.

My best advice is to visit the CDC (Center for Disease Control) and the WHO (World Health Organization) websites where you can get real information.