Avian flu is a disease that affects mainly birds, but in some cases it can also be infected in humans. However, by following certain rules, you can avoid infection. What are the causes and symptoms of bird flu? How can you catch it? How to avoid infection?

Avian influenzais an infection caused by influenza A virus. It mainly affects birds, but sometimes it can also be infected in humans. Avian flu became famous in 1997 in Asia. Poultry with the H5N1 strain have died on poultry farms in Hong Kong. At that time, 16 people became infected with it, eight of whom died. The first signals about the H5N1 avian influenza virus approaching Europe appeared at the end of February 2003.

Contents:

    1. Avian flu - how do you get infected?
    2. Avian flu - symptoms
    3. Avian flu - prevention. How to avoid infection?

Avian flu reached Poland only in 2006. It attacked again in Europe (also in our country) in 2014. At the end of 2016, reports of an avian flu epidemic again surfaced. In turn, in 2022 it was reported that an avian flu virus called H7N9 was spreading in China. Is there anything to be afraid of?

Avian flu - how do you get infected?

People can catch avian flu through close contact with sick birds or their meat, faeces or feathers. It is possible for humans to transmit the avian influenza virus through shoes, clothing and even hands without proper safety precautions. No human-to-human transmission of infection has been reported so far.

Avian flu - symptoms

In the period of avian flu, you can eat poultry meat, but only heat-treated, e.g. boiled, fried at a temperature above 70 degrees C.

The symptoms of bird flu are similar to those of ordinary flu. These include:

  • fever
  • sore throat
  • cough
  • conjunctivitis
  • muscle aches.

Avian flu - prevention. How to avoid infection?

  • avoid contact with birds - remember that you can get infected even by touching the feathers of a sick bird - be vigilant during walks in parks
  • in contact with birds (e.g. in poultry farms) use disposable gloves
  • wash your hands after each contact with birds, both wild and farmed
  • keep bird eggs and poultry in a tightly closed packaging so that they do not come into contact with other food, also due to the risk of salmonella
  • avoid eating a raw egg, e.g. in the form of a rooster-mogla
  • Wash all items that have come into contact with raw poultry (boards, knives, plates) thoroughly with detergent. Remember that freezing meat does not destroy the bird flu virus
  • eat poultry meat, poultry products and eggs subjected to appropriate heat treatment at a minimum temperature of 70 degrees C
  • make sure that children avoid wild birds, poultry farms and other places where they are kept
Important

First man infected with H7N4 avian flu

In February 2022, it was reported that the world's first human infection with the H7N4 avian influenza virus was recorded. A 68-year-old woman from Ciangsu in eastern China was infected on December 25, 2022. January 1 this year. she was admitted to hospital and released home on January 22nd. The woman came into contact with live poultry and thus became infected.

Category:

Infectious diseases