How To Protect Yourself From Bird Influenza

Bird Influenza is a group of many different viruses which affect birds. Also known as Avian Influenza, this disease may cause no sickness to the birds whatsoever on some occasions but on the other hand it can also be a killer. In many places throughout the world chickens and other poultry are being infected by Avian Influenza H5N1, a particularly highly pathogenic strain of the disease and in quite a few cases people who come into contact with these domestic birds are also getting sick. In fact, 50% or so of these people have died due to the disease.

Although there has been no sign to date of this severe form of Bird Influenza within the United States, a close watch is being kept by health officials. Where people have been affected in other countries, it has always been because of close contact with poultry so if you handle birds you should make sure your hands are protected and thoroughly cleaned when you have finished whatever you are doing with the birds. Bird and human influenza are evolving and the big worry is that should H5N1 mutate into a strain transferable from birds to humans and then continue from humans to humans, an influenza pandemic situation is more than likely to arise.

There are several methods of protection that can be used to safeguard you and your family from Bird Influenza and some of these are listed below. (1) If animals appear to be sick, contact should be avoided as much as possible. (2) After coming into contact with any animal you should always thoroughly wash your hands. (3) Meat produce and eggs need to be properly cooked and any utensils and work surfaces used whilst preparing food should be cleaned with warm soapy water before and afterwards. (4) Your hands should be washed before preparing food.

Although a vaccine against the H5N1 virus is currently under development, there isn’t one available right now so if you are traveling to places known to have had outbreaks of Avian Influenza, areas where livestock are likely to be found, for example, market places should be avoided at all costs.

Check up on any relevant travel information prior to setting off on your trip to another country. Most importantly, make sure you don’t touch surfaces where poultry or other animal feces may have been present.

Next to Swine flu, another disease that’s caused by influenza-type virus that you should watch out for is Bird Influenza. To protect yourself, understanding bird influenza is necessary.

Related post:
Bird Influenza: How To Protect Yourself

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