BIRD FLU THREAT: HOW CLOSE ARE WE

Abstract

Bird flu (avian flu) has been spreading across the world since 2003, killing millions of birds and over 200 human beings, mostly in South East Asia. Yet there is fear of worse to come, fears of a new pandemic, which could claim millions of lives. WHO experts point out that cross-infection to humans is still relatively rare. Most human cases of H5N1 virus infection are thought to have occurred during direct contact with sick or dead infected poultry. Other avian influenza A subtype viruses have infected humans, including low pathogenic and highly pathogenic virus strains. The symptoms of bird flu virus infections in humans include eye infections like conjunctivitis, influenza-like illness symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat, muscle pains), and even severe respiratory illness (e.g. pneumonia, acute respiratory distress) associated with nausea, vomiting and CNS changes.