Avian Influenza Treatment and Symptoms Avian flu; Bird flu; Bird flu (avian influenza); H5N1

Bird flu is an infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. These flu viruses occur naturally among birds. Wild birds worldwide carry the viruses in their intestines, but usually do not get sick from them. However, bird flu is very contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill them. Gold Bamboo Special Report on Bird Flu

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? Orthomyxoviridae Virus classification Group: Group V ((-)ssRNA) ...
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From the EAST  traditional·alternative
Studies suggest that the prescription medicines approved for human flu viruses would work in preventing bird flu infection in humans. However, flu viruses can become resistant to these drugs, so these medications may not always work. The risk from bird flu is generally low to most people because the viruses occur mainly among birds and do not usually infect humans. However, during an outbreak of bird flu among poultry (domesticated chicken, ducks, turkeys), there is a possible risk to people who have contact with infected birds or surfaces that have been contaminated with excretions from infected birds. The current outbreak of avian influenza A (H5N1) among poultry in Asia (see below) is an example of a bird flu outbreak that has caused human infections and deaths. In such situations, people should avoid contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces, and should be careful when handling and cooking poultry. For more information about avian influenza and food safety issues, visit the World Health Organization website.

To avoid contamination people should avoid Poultry in general. however if this cannot be done the following precautions should be observed when preparing food:
* Separate raw meat from cooked or ready-to-eat foods. Do not use the same chopping board or the same knife for preparing raw meat and cooked or ready-to-eat foods.
* Do not handle either raw or cooked foods without washing your hands in between.
* Do not place cooked meat back on the same plate or surface it was on before it was cooked.
* All foods from poultry should be cooked thoroughly, including eggs. Egg yolks should not be runny or liquid. Because influenza viruses are destroyed by heat, the cooking temperature for poultry meat should reach 70�C (158� F).
* Wash egg shells in soapy water before handling and cooking, and wash your hands afterwards.
* Do not use raw or soft-boiled eggs in foods that will not be cooked.
* After handling raw poultry or eggs, wash your hands and all surfaces and utensils thoroughly with soap and water

Related Medications

Avian Influenza Symptoms

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Signs and symptoms
... Bird flu viruses are complex, with a number of subtypes and strains that vary considerably from one another. In the broadest terms, however, the viruses are classified as having a low or high chance o...
Source: MayoClinic

Causes
... Lying in bed with chills, a spiking fever and that run-over-by-a-truck feeling, you''re not likely to care much about the habits and history of flu viruses. But epidemiologists do care — and wit...
Source: MayoClinic

Avian Influenza Prevention

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Prevention
... The international effort to prevent the spread of bird flu is multifaceted, focusing on the health of both birds and humans. Measures to help control the virus among domestic poultry include: Culling....
Source: MayoClinic

Avian Influenza Treatment

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Complications
... Most people with bird flu have signs and symptoms of conventional influenza. Some also develop life-threatening complications such as viral pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome, which cau...
Source: MayoClinic

Treatment
... In August 2005, the U.S. government said it would purchase millions of doses of an experimental bird flu vaccine from a French vaccine maker. The announcement came after the government said tests show...
Source: MayoClinic

Avian Influenza Other

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Overview
... Viruses are masters of interspecies navigation. Mutating rapidly and often grabbing the genetic material of other viruses, they can jump from animals to humans with a quick flick of their DNA. Sometim...
Source: MayoClinic

   

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