Where can you find the HPAI H5N1 virus in birds?
Asian HPAI H5N1 virus infections among domestic poultry have become common (endemic) in certain countries of the world. As of 2011, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization considered six countries to be endemic for Asian HPAI H5N1 virus in poultry (Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam).
What is the difference between H5N1 and H5N8?
Currently in India, the H5N8 strain has been detected in most of the states, and it is not known to have infected humans so far. The H5N1, which can infect humans, was detected among wild birds at the Pong Lake in Himachal, but the outbreak now appears to be contained according to the wildlife authorities.
Is avian influenza zoonotic?
Zoonotic influenza viruses, such as avian or swine influenza, normally spread in animals but can also infect humans. Human infections are primarily acquired through direct contact with infected animals or contaminated environments.
What is H5N8 avian flu in humans?
Bird flu, or avian influenza, is a viral infection spread from bird to bird. The most common kind of bird flu is the H5N1 strain. It’s mostly a threat to birds and doesn’t spread easily among people, but there was a major outbreak of bird flu in people in 2014.
What does H5N1 stand for?
Highly Pathogenic Asian Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus.
Can bird flu be cured?
What’s the treatment for bird flu? Different types of bird flu can cause different symptoms. As a result, treatments may vary. In most cases, treatment with antiviral medication such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza) can help reduce the severity of the disease.
Does bird flu infect human?
Bird flu viruses do not usually infect humans, but several cases of human infection with bird flu viruses have occurred since 1997.
Can avian influenza be transmitted to humans?
Although avian influenza A viruses usually do not infect people, rare cases of human infection with these viruses have been reported. Infected birds shed avian influenza virus in their saliva, mucous and feces.
Why do they call it bird flu?
Avian influenza, known informally as avian flu or bird flu, is a variety of influenza caused by viruses adapted to birds. The type with the greatest risk is highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
What kind of birds are infected with H5N1?
Asian highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A (H5N1) virus occurs mainly in birds and is highly contagious among them. HPAI Asian H5N1 is especially deadly for poultry. The virus was first detected in 1996 in geese in China.
How is the H5N1 virus different from the Asian flu?
(The H5N1 virus recently detected in U.S. wild birds is a new mixed virus (a reassortant) that is genetically different from the Asian avian H5N1 viruses). Flu viruses are constantly changing and animal flu viruses can change such that they may gain the ability to infect people easily and spread among people, causing a pandemic.
Can a bird be infected with avian influenza?
Avian influenza. Companion birds in captivity are unlikely to contract the virus and there has been no report of a companion bird with avian influenza since 2003. Pigeons can contract avian strains, but rarely become ill and are incapable of transmitting the virus efficiently to humans or other animals.
Who was the UN coordinator for avian influenza?
On September 29, 2005, David Nabarro, the newly appointed Senior United Nations System Coordinator for Avian and Human Influenza, warned the world that an outbreak of avian influenza could kill anywhere between 5 million and 150 million people.