What is Avian (Bird) Flu?
Avian flu, also known as bird flu, is a non-human flu virus that causes infection in birds. Bird flu spreads fast among birds and can make some domesticated birds – like chickens and ducks – very sick and can kill them. Bird flu viruses do not usually infect humans. When the illness infects people, it is very serious.
How is Avian (Bird) Flu Spread?
People get bird flu from contact with sick birds. Sick birds shed the virus in saliva and fecal droppings. A person can catch bird flu when a sick chicken coughs or sneezes onto a person’s face, or when a person breathes in bird dropping particles.
People may also get the virus by eating undercooked poultry. You cannot get the virus by eating properly cooked poultry or eggs. Be sure your poultry is fully cooked.
If exposed to bird flu, you could have symptoms for up to 14 days. Symptoms usually include the flu-like symptoms of fever: cough, sore throat, muscle aches, shortness of breath and even eye infections. Serious cases of bird flu cause life-threatening breathing problems including pneumonia. It can even cause death. If you have symptoms of bird flu, get medical care immediately.
Currently, there is no vaccine for bird flu. To protect yourself against bird flu, health officials recommend you take the same steps you would to protect yourself against any other flu or cold.
What Can You Do to Protect Yourself and Your Family?
Take the following steps to protect yourself and your family:
- Wash your hands with soap and water or antibacterial solution often. Remember, “Clean hands save lives.”
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough. Raise your arm and sneeze into your sleeve.
- Stay home if you are sick and if your symptoms get worse, call your doctor.
- Do not send your children to school or childcare when they are feeling sick.
- Try to keep a distance of 6 feet between yourself and others.
- Eat a healthy diet, get enough rest; and make exercise a regular part of your life.