MamasHealth.com Home Infectious Information Adenovirus Anthrax Avian Flu Battle the Cold Black Fever Bronchitis Chicken Pox Cholera Colds and Cruises Cold Season Croup Cytomegalovirus Dengue Fever Diphtheria Ear Infection Ebola Epiglottitis Fight the Flu Flu Flu Vaccine Glandular Fever Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Laryngitis Leprosy Lice Lyme Disease Mad Cow Disease Malaria Measles Meningitis Mono Mumps Pink Eye Pinworms Pneumonia Polio Rabies Rheumataic Fever Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever RSV Sarcoidosis SARS Shigella Enteritis Scarlet Fever Smallpox Sore Throat Stomach Flu Strep Throat Super Infections Tetanus Thrush Tonsilitis Tuberculosis Typhoid Fever Valley Fever West Nile Virus Whooping Cough Yellow Fever Links Email Mama Supporting a family on one income Food borne illnesses Parasitic infections Sign up for the MamasHealth Newsletter	What is Avian Flu? Avian flu is an infectious disease of birds caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. It was first identified in Italy in the early 1900s. Avian flu is also called bird flu and avian influenza. What Causes Avian Flu? Avian flu is caused by a virus. The viruses are complex, with a number of subtypes and strains that vary considerably from one another. Avian Flu and Birds Migratory waterfowl and ducks are hosts birds. They carry the viruses that cause bird flu but are often unaffected. Host birds can spread the infection to domesticated chickens, turkeys and geese, resulting in severe epidemics that sicken and kill large numbers of birds, sometimes in a single day. Avian Flu and Humans Humans develop avian flu from contact with infected poultry and surfaces contaminated by sick birds. Humans can also develop avian flu from direct contact with another person who has avian flu. Symptoms of Avian Flu in Birds The most common symptoms of avian flu in birds are: ruffled feathers reduced egg production respiratory distress In some cases, domestic birds may die the same day symptoms appear. Symptoms of Avian Flu in Humans The most common symptoms of avian influenza in humans are: fever cough sore throat muscle aches eye infections pneumonia Complications of Avian Flu Life threatening complications of avian flu are: viral pneumonia acute respiratory distress syndrome Can Avian Flu be Treated? Yes. Currently the most common treatment used is a medication called Tamiflu. Tamiflu prevents the virus from escaping its host cell.	Featured Book
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