Avian flu: symptoms, treatment and transmission

Avian influenza is a disease caused by influenza A virus , type H5N1 and that rarely affects humans, but when contamination occurs it can cause symptoms similar to those of common flu, such as fever, sore throat, malaise, dry cough and coryza. However, this type of flu can still cause more serious complications, such as difficulty breathing, pneumonia or bleeding.

This type of flu is not passed from one person to another, being transmitted mainly by a person's contact with birds contaminated by the virus, as well as by the consumption of contaminated meat from chickens, chickens, ducks or turkeys. Therefore, to prevent the onset of avian influenza, measures are necessary such as cooking poultry meat well before eating and avoiding contact with any type of birds, such as pigeons, for example.

Main symptoms

The symptoms of bird flu in humans appear about 2 to 8 days after contact or ingestion of meat from some type of infected bird, the first signs of which are similar to those of a common flu and appear suddenly, such as:

• Sore throat; High fever, above 38ºC; Body pain; General malaise; Dry cough; Chills; Weakness; Sneezing and nasal discharge; Abdominal pain.

There may also be bleeding from the nose or gums and the diagnosis is only confirmed by a general practitioner through blood tests and a nasal swab , which is the collection of secretions from the nose to confirm the type of virus that is causing the infection.

How the treatment is done

Treatment for avian influenza must be indicated by a general practitioner and consists of the use of analgesic drugs to reduce pain, antipyretics to control fever and in cases where the person has vomiting, remedies for nausea or receiving serum directly may also be recommended in the vein for hydration. See some remedies indicated for nausea and vomiting.

In some cases, the doctor may prescribe antiviral drugs in the first 48 hours after the onset of symptoms, which may be oseltamivir and zanamivir, which are used to help the body fight the bird flu virus. Antibiotics are not indicated for this type of disease, because what causes bird flu is viruses and not bacteria.

Avian influenza is curable, but when it affects humans, it is usually a serious case that requires prompt care in a hospital, so in case of suspected contamination, it is important to seek hospital medical service as soon as possible.

Possible complications

After being infected by the bird flu virus, the person will probably develop the simplest form, like a common flu. However, complications such as breathing difficulties or pneumonia, for example, can arise. Check out what are the symptoms of pneumonia.

The people who may have the greatest complications are children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems because their bodies take longer to react and to fight the virus. Therefore, if they are contaminated, they must be admitted to receive appropriate treatment at the hospital.

How transmission occurs

Transmission of the avian influenza virus to humans is rare, but it can happen through the contact with feathers, feces or urine of some type of infected bird or even through the inhalation of the dust containing small particles of the animal's secretions or ingesting meat. Contaminated birds can cause this type of flu.

In addition, transmission from one person to another is not common, with few cases in this situation, however, this virus can mutate and pass from one person to another through contact with secretions or droplets from sneezing and coughing.

What to do to prevent

To prevent avian influenza, some measures are necessary, such as:

• Avoid direct contact with infected animals; Always wear rubber boots and gloves when treating birds, taking all necessary hygiene care. Do not touch dead or sick birds; Do not come into contact with places with wild bird droppings; Eat meat well-cooked poultry; wash hands after handling raw poultry meat.

In case of suspicion that an animal is contaminated or if dead birds are found, contact the health surveillance for analysis.