Bird Flu Alert In India: Key Symptoms, Underlying Causes, And Essential Prevention Steps

Bird Flu Alert In India: Bird flu, avian flu or H5N1 is back in India. Recently, the World Health Organisation has reported the first human case of bird flu in India. Amidst the buzz around this deadly disease, we spoke to Dr Dinesh Kumar Tyagi, Additional Director of Internal Medicine at Fortis Hospital, Greater Noida to learn about symptoms, causes and prevention of this disease. Scroll down to learn about this viral infection. 

What Is Bird Flu?

Bird Flu also known as Avian Influenza Virus is a viral infection which primarily affects birds. However, in rare cases, it gets transferred to humans. This infection is deadly to birds and can impact humans and other animals who come in direct contact with the carrier of this disease. Currently, there aren’t any cases reported about this virus spreading via human-to-human contact. However, experts are still concerned that H5N1 may pose a risk of becoming a pandemic to humans. 

Symptoms Of Bird Flu 

Here are the symptoms of Bird Flu: 

• Redness in eyes
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Fever
• Cough
• Sepsis
• Meningitis
• Respiratory Failure

Causes Of Bird Flu

H5N1 virus normally exists in wild waterfowl but it can be spread easily to domestic poultry. This disease can be easily transmitted to humans through direct contact with infected bird faeces, secretions from mouth and eyes and nasal secretions. Moreover, poorly cooked poultry or eggs from infected birds can also cause bird flu in humans. Additionally, people working on farms are in direct contact with livestock and poultry, thus they are at higher risk of this infection. 

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Here are the other causes of bird flu: 

• Avian Influenza Virus
• Exposure to infected birds
• In Contact with a contaminated surface
• Lack of proper hygiene after contact with birds

Complications Of Bird Flu

Bird Flu often leads to severe illness and thus can cause complications such as: 

• Pneumonia (foods to recover pneumonia)
• Respiratory failure 
• Brain swelling like meningoencephalitis
• Acute respiratory distress 

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Prevention Of Bird Flu

Here are the preventive actions from Bird Flu: 

• Minimise the contact with Birds - Maintain Distance, Travel Precautions
• Maintain good Hygiene (tips to maintain sleep hygiene)
• Safe Food Handling - avoid raw or undercooked food
• Seek medical attention if experience flu-like symptoms

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