Find out More about Avian Flu

Understanding Avian Flu
Avian Flu is an illness caused by influenza viruses that attack the bird / poultry / chicken. One to watch is the type caused by influenza viruses with H5N1 genetic code (H = Haemagglutinin, N = Neuramidase) which in addition can be transmitted from bird to bird it can also be transmitted from birds to humans.

 

 Causes of Avian Flu

The cause of bird flu are type A influenza virus. Influenza viruses, including Orthomyxoviridae family. Type A influenza viruses can change shape (Drift, Shift), and can cause epidemics and pandemics. Based on the sub-type consists of hemagglutinin (H) and Neuramidase (N). Both letters are used as an identification code of bird flu subtype that many kinds.

In humans:
there are only a type of H1N1, H2N2, H3N3, H5N1, H9N2, H1N2, H7N7.
Whereas in animals:
H1-H5 and N1-N98. Highly virulent strains / malignant and cause the bird flu is of subtype A H5N1.
The virus can survive in water up to 4 days at 22 ° C and more than 30 days at 0 ° C. The virus will die in the warm 60 ° C for 30 minutes or 56 ° C for 3 hours and with a detergent, disinfectants such as formalin and iodine-containing fluid.


Symptoms of Bird Flu
Symptoms of bird flu can be distinguished in poultry and humans.

Symptoms in birds:
Blue comb
Ulcers in the legs
Sudden death
Symptoms in humans
Fever (body temperature above 38 ° C)
limp
Bleeding nose and gums
blown
vomiting and abdominal pain and diarrhea
Cough and sore throat
Upper respiratory tract inflammation
Pneumonia
Eye infections
Muscle pain
Incubation period

On Poultry: 1 week
In Humans: 1-3 days, period 1 day before infection until 3-5 days after onset of symptoms. In children up to 21 days

Transmission
Bird flu passes from birds to birds, and from birds to the human, through saliva, mucus from the nose and feces.
This disease can also spread through contaminated air H5N1 virus from bird droppings or secretary / poultry suffering from avian flu.
Transmission from poultry to humans may also occur if direct contact with poultry infected with bird flu. For example: worker at a chicken farm, chicken cutters and other handlers of poultry products.

Sick birds by influenza A or H5N1 virus can excrete the virus in large amounts in feces. The virus can survive in water up to four days at 22 degrees Celsius and more than 30 days at zero degrees centigrade. In the feces and body contact with sick birds, the virus can survive longer. The virus is dead at 56 degrees Celsius warming in 3 hours or 60 degrees centigrade for 30 minutes. Materials fomalin and iodine disinfectants can kill the virus menakutrkan this.

Live bird flu virus in the digestive tract of poultry. Virus-infected birds will excrete the virus through saliva (saliva), nasal secretions, and feces. Avian influenza avian virus can be transmitted to humans by two roads. The first direct contamination of the environment that contains a virus-infected birds to humans. Another way is through the intermediary pigs. Transmission is thought to occur from dirt orally or through the respiratory tract.

The spread of bird flu in various parts of the world include:
Chickens and humans in Hong Kong. During the outbreak of Avian Influenza In 1997 the A (H5N1) has infected 18 people have been held in the hospital and six of them died. To prevent the spread of the local government destroy 1.5 million chickens infected with bird flu.
In 1999, in Hong Kong reported a case of Avian Influenza A (H9N2) in 2 children without causing death.
In 2003, in Hong Kong again found two cases of Avian Influenza A (H5N1) and one person died.
In 2003, in the Netherlands found 80 cases of Avian Influenza A (H7N7) and one of them died.
In 2004 occurred a further 25 cases of Avian Influenza A (H5N1) in Vietnam (19) and Thailand (6) that caused 19 deaths (5 in Thailand, 14 in Vietnam)


PREVENTION

On Poultry:
Culling of poultry / birds infected with bird flu
Poultry vaccination in healthy

In Humans:
High-risk groups (farm workers and traders):
Wash hands with disinfectant and a shower after work.
Avoid direct contact with chickens or poultry infected with bird flu.
Use personal protective equipment. (Eg masks and work clothes).
Leave work clothes at work.
Poultry manure to clean every day.
Immunization.

The general public:
Keep the immune system by eating a nutritious diet and adequate rest.
Poultry processing in the right manner, namely:
Choose healthy birds (there are no symptoms of disease in the body)
Cook chicken until a temperature of ± 800 ° C for 1 min and the temperature of the egg up to ± 640 ° C for 4.5 minutes.
Wash hands frequently, handlers should also perform hand disinfection (70% alcohol can be, or a solution of bleach / chlorine 0.5% for alat2/instrumen)
Observe that passive exposure to their health and their families. Consider complaints such as flu, sore eyes, respiratory complaints.

Treatment of Bird Flu
Treatment for people with bird flu are:
Oxygenation if there is shortness of breath.
Hydration with parenteral fluids (IV).
Anti-viral drug oseltamivir 75 mg single dose for 7 days.
Amantadin given early in infection, as far as possible within the first 48 hours for 3-5 days with a dose of 5 mg / kg per day divided in 2 doses. When your weight over 45 kg are given 100 mg 2 times a day.

Source: Avian Flu
Image: Avian Flu Image