Avian (H5N1 or bird) flu is worrisome because there is no vaccine available to defend against it and more than half of those infected died as a result of it. The public health community is more concerned with the spread of the common, seasonal flu because a greater number of people die from it annually. However, the possibility of a widespread bird flu outbreak is not so remote. Confirmed outbreaks have been reported in Asia, parts of Europe, Africa and the Near East.  At this time, there have been no reported cases of bird flu in the United States. 

How Is Bird Flu Spread

Most human cases result from contact between humans and infected poultry (domesticated chickens, ducks and turkeys). While rare, human-to-human transmission of the virus has also been reported.

Symptoms and Risks of Bird Flu

The symptoms of avian (bird) flu are very similar to seasonal flu symptoms: fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, fatigue, dizziness and runny nose. More serious symptoms include eye infections, pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases and other life-threatening complications. The symptoms of avian flu may differ depending on which variant of virus caused the infection.

The bird flu virus has not yet developed the capability to spread easily from person to person the way the common, seasonal flu can. However, there is concern in the medical community that the bird flu will change and become easy to spread among humans.

Global health organizations and governments are working to increase awareness of the Avian Flu. More information can be found at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov  where you’ll find links to avianflu.gov.