What
is Bird Flu?
Bird Flu (also known as avian influenza) is
a type of influenza virulent in birds. It was first identified
in Italy in the early 1900s and is now known to exist worldwide.
The
causative agent is the avian influenza (AI) virus. AI viruses
all belong to the influenza virus A genus of the Orthomyxoviridae
family and are negative-stranded, segmented RNA viruses.
Avian
influenza spreads in the air and in manure. Wild fowl often
act as resistant carriers, spreading it to more susceptible
domestic stocks. It can also be transmitted by contaminated
feed, water, equipment and clothing; however, there is
no evidence that the virus can survive in well cooked meat.
Cats
are also thought to be possible infection vectors for H5N1
strains of avian flu.
The incubation period is 3 to 5 days.
Symptoms in animals vary, but virulent strains can cause
death within a few
days.
A number of Asian countries have been affected by avian
flu (bird flu) infecting their poultry stocks. In some
of these
countries, a small number of people have contracted
the avian flu virus from chickens.
Scientists are concerned
by these events because it is feared that the avian flu
virus could merge with
a human
flu virus.
The result of this merging might result in a new,
highly infectious, rapidly fatal flu virus. Such a new virus
would be transmitted
rapidly from person to person with potentially devastating
results.
To keep the outbreak of avian flu virus under
control, many of the Asian countries are culling their
poultry stocks to
prevent further spread of the virus. |
