Bird Flu

Bird Flu Avian influenza is a viral disease affecting birds widespread, especially in the backyard. Disease pathogen is the influenza virus - A Bird flu occurs with a similar clinical picture of influenza "normal", with fever, headache, sore throat and pains in the limbs. To be sure if it was bird flu, is recommended to perform special tests for highlighting the virus antigens. There are no generally accepted treatment for avian flu, but some antiviral drugs acting to improve symptoms and may be helpful. There is currently no vaccine against avian flu virus, but with respect to prophylactic rules may prevent infection.
Definition Avian influenza (in English "Asian Flu") is a widespread viral disease known for more than 100 years. It affects mainly birds, especially chickens and turkeys. In recent years cases of disease have been found breeding in the provinces of Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia). Affected persons have contracted the disease in very close contact with infected animals (chickens on farms). Scientists consider the possibility that avian flu viruses combine to cause flu in humans, the risk of a pandemic (epidemic universal). Cases of bird flu were reported in the Ural region, probably in Asia transporatarea virus through migratory birds in Russia.

Etiology Avian flu is influenza-A virus ingestion, which occurs in 15 sub-types, called subtypes H. Viruses occurring in humans belong to subtypes H1, H2 and H3. Severe manifestations of avian influenza have been caused by H5 and H7 subtypes. Since late 2003, an epidemic spread in Asia of avian influenza caused by H5N1 virus, which has taken off in Europe. Experts expect the spread of the disease. Avian influenza viruses occur mainly in domestic birds (eg ducks, chickens and turkeys as well). Can rarely infect mammals-pigs, cats, horses or even people.
The route of transmission The risk of disease transmission to humans occurs when very close contact with sick animals. The virus is found mainly in the feces of infected birds. People become infected by inhaling air containing the virus or by direct physical contact with contaminated faeces due to poor hand hygiene. The incubation period is approximately four days. Consumption of poultry meat or eggs are not any health risk behavior in this case, the risk of food to be cooked well. Ingestion of raw or insufficiently cooked meat can be dangerous though. In 2004 Thailand was described in a case of avian influenza transmission from person to person, although this route of transmission was excluded at that time.
Clinical The clinical picture of avian influenza in humans similar to a severe flu. The first symptom is fever, which is associated with cough, breathlessness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. Can sometimes occur and sore throat, headache and pain in the limbs and in severe cases, inflammation of lung parenchyma (pneumonia).
Diagnosis If an individual Asian countries show symptoms of bird flu called after consumption of infected meat, may have contracted the disease. In addition, you can use special investigative methods such as ASSAY, ELISA and PCR (polymerase chain reaction, polymerase chain reaction), which show similar influenza-A virus antigens in bronchial secretions in the throat and the nasal cavity .
Treatment In the treatment of viral diseases may, in addition to medication to relieve symptoms, and virostatice (drugs that stop the growth of viruses). Avian flu have proven effective neuraminidase inhibitors. Currently investigating the effect of other avian influenza virostatice. Symptomatic treatment is based on antipyretics (fever-lowering drugs), analgesics, etc..
Charts Infection with avian influenza virus evolves differently from the absence of any symptom or manifestation of cold light to serious inflammation of lung parenchyma (pneumonia) with risk of death. Risks Simultaneous infection with the virus responsible for bird flu and influenza-A virus of influenza in humans could lead to mixing and modification of the viral genome. These viruses "Mixed" can be very dangerous and can spread easily from human to human. Prevention At the moment there is no effective vaccine against avian flu. Used in the prevention of human influenza vaccines are not acting against the influenza, but are recommended to counter the possibility of a simultaneous attack of influenza viruses that cause avian flu and its human cause flu. Researchers try to find an effective vaccine against avian flu. Until then, it is recommended to vaccinate chickens against the pathogen. Because the disease rarely occurs among people, the risk of infectivity to humans is very low. However, prophylactic rules to enforce: - Avoidance of live or dead birds; - Avoid poultry markets; - Preparation of the solid heat poultry and adjacent products (eggs), because the avian influenza virus does not survive at temperatures above 70 ◦ C; - Do not drink raw meat or cooked enough; - Thorough hand hygiene (water, soap and disinfectants, especially before eating);