What causes Bird flu and how dangerous is it?

Bird flu, or avian influenza, is a respiratory virus that primarily affects birds. Health authorities have been preparing a round of vaccinations to prevent a major outbreak. However, cases have risen to a level severe enough for California’s Governor Gavin Newsom to issue a public health emergency. In partnership with public health experts, the governor took the dramatic step to give the relevant agencies and authorities more power to keep the virus from spreading and has reassured the public that those who do not come into direct contact with poultry face a very low risk of contracting the virus.

What kind of birds can be infected?

Bird flu is caused by a type of influenza A virus. These viruses can infect a wide variety of wild and domestic birds, including chickens, ducks, and geese. There are numerous strains of avian influenza, but most don’t pose a threat to humans. However, some strains, like H5N1 and H7N9, have caused concern due to their ability to infect people.

Does Bird flu spread between humans?

So far, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have not recorded any incidents of human-to-human transmission, a critical factor that makes it easier to reduce the spread by working with farmers and laborers who do come into contact with birds that might be infected. In late November, the CDC confirmed that a child in California had been infected with the H5N1 virus. They did not believe that the virus was transmitted to the child from another person, but the source of the infection was still under investigation. Within a few days, the child tested negative for bird flu and positive for a common cold, as did several family members.

The risk of bird flu transmission to humans is generally low. People typically get infected through close contact with infected birds, dead or alive. Touching infected birds, inhaling dust or droplets from an infected bird, or coming into contact with contaminated surfaces or environments are the most common ways patients come down with the virus.

The danger posed by bird flu for humans varies depending on the strain. Some people infected with certain strains may experience no symptoms or only mild illness. However, certain strains, such as the H7N9, (HPAI) A(H5N1), and A(H5N6) viruses, are highly pathogenic, causing severe respiratory problems, organ failure, and even death. On December 18, the CDC reported that a person in Louisiana had been hospitalized after testing positive for H5N1 and developing severe symptoms.

Preventing the spread of bird flu

There are steps you can take to minimize the risk of bird flu infection.

Avoiding contact with sick or dead birds, practicing good hygiene around poultry, and adequately cooking poultry products are essential precautions. And while the trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic may create anxiety, the FDA has attempted to reassure the public that contracting the virus by eating the meat of an infected bird is rare.