An individual in Texas is being handled for avian influenza (chook flu), in line with a report from state officers. The lethal virus has sickened dairy cows in 5 states in current weeks.
This marks the primary recognized case worldwide of an individual contracting the H5N1 pressure of chook flu from a mammal and solely the second human case of the illness in the US, in line with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC). ). An individual who had contact with contaminated poultry contracted the virus in 2022.
Dean Blumberg, chief of pediatric infectious ailments at UC Davis Well being, solutions questions on what it’s essential learn about chook flu.
What’s chook flu?
Avian flu is attributable to strains of influenza that generally infect wild birds around the globe. They will additionally trigger outbreaks amongst business or yard poultry and, much less generally, amongst different animals.
What are the signs of chook flu?
Chook flu could cause birds to exhibit respiratory signs akin to a runny nostril and coughing or sneezing, diarrhea, much less vitality, decreased egg manufacturing, or generally sudden dying.
In people, chook flu could cause influenza-like sicknesses (flu), with fever, cough, sore throat, runny nostril, and muscle aches. Much less generally, people might have diarrhea and vomiting and, extra hardly ever, seizures.
How does chook flu usually unfold?
Most infections happen when people come into contact with sick or useless contaminated animals with out carrying private protecting tools.
How can cows get chook flu?
Many various species of birds might be contaminated with avian flu and the infectious virus is shed via saliva, mucous membranes and feces. The unfold infectious virus can infect different animals, together with cows.
Is chook flu contagious from individual to individual?
Chook flu is never transmitted from individual to individual. It’s mostly transmitted from animals to people. There was no proof of sustained person-to-person unfold.
Is it potential that chook flu has advanced in a approach that will assist it unfold extra simply amongst people?
There’s presently no proof that chook flu spreads extra simply from individual to individual, though there may be at all times the likelihood that the virus may evolve to unfold extra simply between people. Most human infections with chook flu are as a result of shut unprotected contact with sick or useless animals.
Ought to folks keep away from consuming beef or dairy merchandise?
Sick or diseased animals should be euthanized and their animal merchandise should not be bought. Pasteurization will kill infectious viruses in contaminated milk. There could also be a threat of transmission if unpasteurized milk from a sick animal is ingested.
How is avian flu handled in people?
Avian flu is handled equally to human flu. The antiviral oseltamivir (Tamiflu) stays an efficient possibility for treating people contaminated with chook flu.
How can folks shield themselves to forestall chook flu?
Keep away from unprotected publicity to sick or useless animals. This contains birds, poultry or different animals. For individuals who work with animals, full private protecting tools must be worn when in shut or direct contact with animals or materials that’s probably contaminated with the virus. This contains an N95 masks or equal, goggles, gloves, robe, head overlaying, and boot covers.