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Avian Flu Virus Characteristics

According to the Centers for Disease Control, avian flu is a type of influenza that typically occurs only in birds. Occasionally the avian flu can infect birds that are bred for consumption. If a bird is infected with the avian flu and ingested by a human, the virus can then spread to that person. There are a number of symptomatic characteristics that can help identify the avian influenza.

  1. Infection of Avian Flu Through Consumption

    • The avian flu can spread easily from bird to bird but cannot transfer from bird to human unless an individual eats the meat of an infected bird. The avian flu does not appear to transfer from human to human, although the Centers for Disease Control states there appears to have been one case in which the virus was transferred from a mother to her child. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, the virus has been predominantly found in young children and young adults.

    Infection of Avian Flu Through Water

    • Although avian flu is not passed from human to human, it can be passed to a human being through contact with contaminated water. Swimming in contaminated water could theoretically cause an individual to contract the avian flu. Water may be swallowed while swimming or get into the system via the nasal cavity or the eye.

    Symptoms of Avian Flu

    • Symptoms of the avian flu may show up between two and four days of exposure. Individuals may develop lower-respiratory infections such as pneumonia. An individual who has contracted the avian flu may complain of stomach pain, diarrhea and vomiting. Someone infected with the avian flu may have muscle aches, cough and a sore throat. The avian flu may also cause nose bleeds and bleeding gums, as well as an infection of the eyes.

    Testing for the Avian Flu

    • The New York Times reports that the avian flu can be detected relatively quickly by a number of tests. A chest X-ray is done to check on the condition of the lungs. The nasal cavity is swabbed and a culture is done to confirm the presence of the avian flu virus. Blood is drawn and tested as well, and tests are done to check the function of major organs.

    Treatment of the Avian Flu

    • Treatment of the avian flu depends on how severely the virus has affected the infected individuals. If symptoms are mild, a patient may be treated with an anti-viral drug such as Tamiflu. Anti-virals can only be used within 48 hours of the onset of flu symptoms. If the avian flu has progressed to a point that the function of the lungs is severely compromised, then hospitalization is required. Patients may sometimes reach a point in the illness in which they cannot breathe on their own and the temporary assistance of a breathing machine may be necessary.

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