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Avian Flu (3): Human risks, today and tomorrow
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The avian flu virus has already killed millions of birds and the disease spreads quickly between the birds despite aggressive sanitary measures. In humans, the situation is rather different. This podcast analyses the human health risks caused by the avian flu virus both right now and in the futur.
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Up to now… transmission occurs following a close and long contact with the virus
TAG : Avian_flu, Poultry, Influenza, H5N1, Bird, Chicken, Turkey
What are the symptoms of avian flu in humans?In birds, the avian flu virus spreads quickly:
In human, the transmission is not so easy:
- Already killed millions of birds
- Very contagious virus to birds
- A few hundred confirmed cases
- Infection following close and long contact
- Some populations are at increased risk (slaughter house workers)
However, it is possible to contract the disease while eating an infected bird:
- The virus is resistant to temperatures up to 70ºC
- Freezing does not affect the virus at all
How many human infections from 2003 to 2006?
The spread of the infection across the worldAccording to the World Health Organisation, at the beginning of November 2006, 258 people tested positive to the H5N1 virus and 154 died because of the infection.
It is extremely worrying to see how the numbers are consistently rising.
You may also notice that the rate of casualty stays at around 60% which is enormous.
First observed:
- Asia
- Still where most human casualties have been reported
More recently:
- Middle East/ Africa
January 2006:
- Europe, in Turkey
- 14 year old boy and his 15 year old sister died
The Turkish authorities believe that contagion occurred through close contact with infected chickens and not directly between the brother and his sister
Thanks, 2 videos on the effect of the H5N1 on the birds and our pets are coming soon.
Interesting stuff once again but what about avian flu in our pets? Carry on the good work.