Bird flu is an infectious disease with a viral origin. Avian influenza is the medical term used to describe this condition. Various types of bird flu viruses have caused epidemics and pandemics. The infection affects not only birds but also humans. Bird flu is transmitted in multiple ways, and some groups are at greater risk of illness.
Currently, infections are rare due to the preventive methods in place. However, certain avian influenza viruses are characterized by their ability to mutate rapidly and are responsible for severe, often fatal, infections.
Human avian influenza's symptoms are similar to standard flu, so it is straightforward to confuse the two diseases. Special medical tests can detect avian flu. Treatment is medication, and effective vaccines protect against the disease. It is important to follow preventive recommendations to reduce the risk of infection. Learn more about human bird flu.
Human infection with the bird flu virus first occurred in 1997
. Since then, much data and research has been documented on the disease. Bird flu epidemics have broken out in various parts of the world. Today, avian influenza viruses are still present and pose a threat, but due to increased protection, the disease is rare.
Bird flu viruses belong to the orthomyxoviridae family. It is RNA viruses that can overcome the interspecies infection barrier. There are three types of avian influenza viruses, designated as A, B, and C. Type A viruses pose the greatest threat, being more likely to cause epidemics and pandemics. It is related to the possibility of genetic mutations of these viruses. Type B avian influenza viruses only occur in humans. They, too, can be dangerous but are less likely to cause epidemics. In contrast, type C influenza viruses are associated with a mild course and a shallow risk of outbreaks.
The viruses spread from animals to humans. The zoonotic potential of the viruses also makes them affect different animals. In addition to birds, avian influenza can also affect horses, pigs, dogs, cats, and others. Transmission of the virus between animals involves the oral-fecal route. However, no cases of human-to-human transmission of avian influenza viruses have been reported. Infection in humans can occur in various ways. Knowing how to spread avian influenza to avoid infection is useful. Ways of contracting bird flu include:
The pathogenic virus is spread mainly by bird feces and secretions. Bird flu affects many bird species, including wild birds such as ducks and farm animals such as chickens. In addition, the virus can be projected from birds to livestock, such as pigs. Therefore, infection with the virus can occur if a farm is run or contact is made with contaminated livestock products such as meat or eggs. Thus, if avian influenza cases are confirmed, products should be eliminated.
Bird flu virus infection can also occur through contact with the environment where infected birds have been present. Close contact with bird secretions or feces represents a high risk of pathogen transmission. Transmission can occur through inhalation and fomites, objects contaminated by the virus. Bird flu virus, in addition, is resistant to low temperatures. Pathogens can last from a few days to several weeks outside of birds. Therefore, poultry production workers are more vulnerable to infection than the general population.
Once the virus has entered the body, the incubation period can last from 2 days to 2 weeks. This means that the symptoms of the disease appear suddenly in some cases and are delayed in others. The intensity of symptoms can also vary depending on the type of bird influenza virus that caused the infection. Other factors, such as the immune level and age of the patient, also affect the course. Children may experience a more severe course. Unfortunately, avian influenza in humans can be dangerous, as evidenced by the high mortality rate. Symptoms of bird flu include:
High fever is the first symptom of bird flu. Patients infected with the virus are noted to have a high temperature of over 38°C. An increase in body temperature is a symptom of inflammation. Fever is a common symptom of avian influenza, but in some cases, it does not occur.
Bird flu usually resembles ordinary flu symptomatically. As such, symptoms may involve areas such as the larynx, trachea, and bronchi. A cough, pleurisy, sore throat, and breathing problems may occur during the infection. Nasal bleeding may occur as a result of weakness. Flu symptoms can be mild or severe depending on the course, making daily life much more difficult.
Digestive symptoms may also occur during bird flu. These uncharacteristic symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Thus, this symptom is worth mistaking for a different illness, such as food poisoning.
It has also been noted that conjunctivitis is common in avian influenza patients. The viral infection of the eye can cause symptoms such as burning, redness, watering of the eyes, discharge, and pinching of the eyelids. Upon awakening, there is a feeling of sticky eyelids.
Bird flu is a disease that is difficult to diagnose based on symptoms alone, as they are uncharacteristic. The course of avian influenza can resemble many diseases, although common flu is not correct, like bird flu. It is then necessary to conduct special investigations and tests often to pinpoint the specific pathogen causing the infection.
An antigen test is a popular, rapid, readily available test that helps diagnose viral diseases. This test involves collecting material from the nasopharyngeal cavity, preferably within three days of the onset of symptoms. The test detects virus-specific proteins produced during the virus's replication. Such tests are often used during pandemics. For example, antigen tests were good for diagnosing patients during the coronavirus pandemic.
Another way to detect the presence of the avian influenza virus is virus culture. After taking a sample from a patient, specialists carry out tests that multiply viruses in living cells under laboratory conditions. The viruses can be made clear using an electron microscope, confirming the disease. Such research also makes it possible to produce vaccines.
In diagnosing viral diseases, nucleic acid amplification tests such as real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) allow early detection and identification of bird flu. A healthcare professional collects a sample of genetic material from a patient and then places it in a device where amplification occurs. The device determines whether pathogens are present in the amplified sample.
Treatment should start immediately when the bird flu virus is suspected or detected. It is also essential to protect people in avian influenza risk groups, particularly, from the disease. In this regard, effective vaccination helps to avoid the spread of epidemics.
Various drugs that act on bird flu viruses are primarily used in people with avian influenza. The treatment mechanism is to interfere with the release of the virus inside the cell. Drugs such as adamantanes and a new class of neuraminidase inhibitors are available. Adamantanes are effective when given to the patient in the early stages of the disease. It is an old-generation drug that can cause side effects.
In addition to this, some types of viruses show resistance against these types of drugs. As a result, new-generation drugs, i.e., neuraminidase inhibitors with antiviral activity, are increasingly being used. They show fewer side effects and work against various types of viruses. Some kinds of neuraminidase inhibitors can even be used safely in young children.
Bird flu vaccines are an essential element of protection. Numerous epidemics causing public health problems have led to a search for lines of defense and ways to deal with avian influenza viruses. A trivalent bird flu vaccine has been developed to reduce morbidity and mortality. Vaccines are widely available, mainly in North America and Europe. Mass vaccination is used in areas affected by epidemics. Health organizations place great emphasis on the relevance of vaccines because low vaccination coverage and the use of unlicensed vaccines can cause them to be ineffective.
Avian flu is a dangerous disease that can also cause complications. It is noted that avian influenza causes a high mortality rate, especially in young children and infants. Death most often occurs as a result of respiratory failure. Therefore, when information about the risk of avian influenza in your area reaches you, follow the safety advice. To avoid infection and complications, avoid contact with birds and wash your hands regularly with soap and water, especially after contact with birds or their environment.
Complications of bird flu include:
Multiple organ failure is a critical condition that threatens a patient's life. It is characterized by progressive failure of the body's essential systems. Kidney dysfunction and heart failure can occur as a result of complications of bird flu. Organ failure is the body's response to the harmful effects of the avian influenza virus. Multiple organ failure can cause metabolic disorders, permanent organ damage, and dangerous respiratory failure. Patients with this condition are usually hospitalized in intensive care units.
Excessive virus activity can cause respiratory symptoms to increase in intensity, leading to pneumonia. In the case of bird flu virus, the complication of pneumonia may require treatment with a ventilator due to the risk of respiratory failure, which can cause death. When bird flu causes pneumonia, symptoms such as chills, cough with expectoration of purulent sputum, chest pain, and shortness of breath may occur. In such cases, it is essential to seek medical attention.
Lung problems resulting from the bird flu virus can cause pulmonary hemorrhage. Pulmonary hemorrhage is massive bleeding from the respiratory tract that can cause respiratory failure and be immediately life-threatening. It is an ailment associated with advanced respiratory disease. A bloody cough with visible bright red sputum is a characteristic symptom of this condition. The severity of the bleeding is directly related to the size of the damaged vessel. It is, therefore, very important to recognize the condition as soon as possible and take appropriate treatment.
Pneumothorax is a condition that develops due to air and other gases entering the pleural cavity. It is a dangerous complication of bird flu that can be fatal. Emphysema can develop as a result of excessive coughing during a viral infection. The consequence is compression of the alveoli, causing impaired gas exchange and partial or complete collapse of one or both lungs. Pneumothorax causes various symptoms, including stabbing chest pain. Treatment of pneumothorax is tailored individually to the patient's condition.
Another dangerous complication of bird flu is pancytopenia, which is described as an abnormality of the blood count. The complication is associated with reduced erythrocytes, leukocytes, and thrombocytes. Pancytopenia can cause a deficiency of blood cells, which manifests as anemia and leukopenia. The body becomes weaker and more susceptible to infections. As a result of thrombocytopenia, there is an increased risk of bleeding. Treatment consists of eradicating the viral infection, and supportive pharmacotherapy is also possible.
Reye's syndrome is a rare disease that mainly affects children and adolescents. It is associated with acute hepatic steatosis and a neurological disorder called encephalopathy. Reye's syndrome usually develops after the patient has contracted a virus-induced infection; it also affects the bird flu virus. Treatment is supportive, as there is no cure for the disease. Reye's syndrome treatment should occur in a hospital setting, as it requires meticulous monitoring of the patient's condition.
Sepsis is the body's excessive response to infection. It is a life-threatening condition. Without timely treatment, there can be organ damage and even death. Bacteria are the most common cause of sepsis, but bird flu viruses can also cause it. Complications of avian influenza include septicemia syndrome without documented bacteremia.
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