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What Are the Symptoms of Bird Flu

The Bird Flu is a strain of the Influenza A virus. That means that it is quite similar to other types of flu. But, what makes the Bird Flu, also known as the Avian Flu, so troublesome is the fact that it is a deadly virus. The Bird Flu is a virus which is heavily dominated in Asia and Northern Africa as well as in the Middle East. In these areas, birds that have become infected with the Bird Flu have had a mortality rate that is 100%. In human cases of the Bird Flu in these areas, the mortality rate is around 60%. That is still quite a large number and a much too scary number to not worry about.

There are several types of the influenza virus. The virus all share similar symptoms but some are different enough to cause it to be more deadly. The best method of prevention that is currently being used is that of killing and destroying animals that have been infected by the Avian Flu virus. Also, millions of birds that are thought to be infected have been killed over that last few months. This was in Southeast Asia alone.

The Bird Flu has similar symptoms to that of other types of influenza. If you have had the common form of influenza which is also known as the annual or seasonal flu, then you may have actually felt the symptoms of the Bird Flu already. Some of the symptoms of the Bird Flu in humans include sore throat, sore, aching muscles, coughs, fevers, and vomiting. These symptoms generally do not by themselves totally stop you. The problem is that many of them will develop into pneumonia and into respiratory failure as well. They can cause death at this point. Lung infections, scarring in the lung, fluid in the lung and surrounding it, enlarged lymph nodes and has caused deformities in the lungs themselves.

There are medications that can treat the symptoms of the Bird Flu. Neuraminidase inhibitors, a class of medications, have been used to treat those that have been found to have symptoms of the Bird Flu. Zanamivir and Oseltamivir have been used as the medications. The drug Oseltamivir is used to stop the virus from spreading inside the human body which can greatly help it to stop from becoming quite deadly. You may have heard of this medication marketing name which is Tamiflu. In fact, many governments are working to stockpile Tamiflu in case of a world wide pandemic. No knowing if and when the Avian Flu may become a pandemic is a serious concern.