Bird flu spreading silently among people in US, experts fear
Bird flu infections in humans may be more common than official data suggests
As bird flu continues to ravage the US, experts are warning that infections in humans may be more common than official data suggests. They identified at least 164 unreported cases from state data, among those, 51 were in people who had no known contact with birds.
Infections likely undetected due to mild symptoms
The reason for this discrepancy is likely because most human infections with bird flu have mild symptoms or none at all, according to Dr. Richard Webby, director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Studies on the Ecology of Influenza in Animals and Birds at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Mild symptoms include
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Muscle aches
This means that many people who are infected with bird flu may not even know they have it. As a result, they are not being tested and are not being counted in official data.
Spread of bird flu to humans is a serious concern
The spread of bird flu to humans is a serious concern because the virus can mutate and become more dangerous. In 1997, a bird flu virus mutated and caused a global pandemic that killed millions of people.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the current bird flu virus is not easily transmissible from person to person and the risk to the general public is low. However, the CDC is urging people to take precautions to avoid contact with infected birds and poultry products.
How to protect yourself from bird flu
There are a number of things you can do to protect yourself from bird flu, including:
- Avoid contact with sick birds or poultry.
- Do not touch dead birds or poultry.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling poultry or poultry products.
- Cook poultry to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Do not eat raw or undercooked poultry or eggs.
If you do come into contact with a sick bird or poultry, or if you develop symptoms of bird flu, contact your doctor immediately.
Bird flu is a serious disease, but it can be prevented
Bird flu is a serious disease, but it can be prevented by taking simple precautions. By following the tips above, you can help protect yourself and your family from this virus.
