More Questions About The Avian Flu

The avian flu is a particularly deadly strain of the influenza virus which many scientists fear will cause a large impact on the world very soon. In this article, we’ll work towards explaining the virus by answering some questions that many have about the strain.

Question: What animals can catch the bird flu?

Answer: Unfortunately, this strain of the respiratory illness has been shown to pass on to many different types of animals. Many domestic birds in Asia have fallen victim to the virus, and scientists recently discovered that ducks are ‘carriers’ of the virus that do not experience any symptoms, but pass on the H5N1 virus in their feces. There have also been cases in which humans have fallen victim to the virus, as well as a number of carnivorous animal species. Cats, tigers, and leopards are among the species that have confirmed cases of H5N1 virus. Many scientists conjecture that the virus will also be able to pass on to dogs as well, although there have been no occurrences recorded as of yet.

Question: Has the H5N1 virus reached the United States?

Answer: As of the writing of this article, there have been no cases of the H5N1 bird flu within the United States. Europe, Asia, and Africa have all seen cases of bird flu transmission to humans, but no United States citizens have ever been diagnosed.

Question: Is the migration of birds a threat to the United States?

Answer: Unfortunately, some of the migratory patterns of birds may prove to be troublesome when it comes to spreading the H5N1 virus. There are some species of birds that spend the winter months in Asia before returning to Alaska and Canada, which may result in the transmission of the virus to North American birds. This is one of the many threats we face when it comes to the bird flu - illegally smuggled meats may be one of the bigger threats. Also, those who are traveling to North America may be infected with the virus, causing a significant chance of an outbreak.

Question: What are the symptoms of the avian flu within humans?

Answer: The avian flu is a respiratory illness that can spread fast and cause widespread damage to the body. Many of the symptoms that those with H5N1 manifest closely resemble those of the common flu with fever, muscle aches, and a sore throat present. The symptoms can result in pneumonia and other respiratory diseases which gives the virus its mortality rate of roughly fifty percent.

Question: Is a terrorist attack possible with the use of avian flu?

Answer: While it is possible that a terrorist could cause an attack with the avian flu, it is very unlikely. In order to make the virus spread from human to human an extraordinary level of scientific skill must be present, making it nearly impossible for a terrorist to use the flu as a weapon.

Now that you know more about the avian flu, you can better realize the threat that it presents to our society today. Be sure to read all that you can about the avian flu as to better prepare yourself should a pandemic strike.