Can avian influenza affect humans?
Can avian influenza affect humans?
These viruses occur naturally among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species. Avian flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with avian flu viruses have occurred.
Can avian influenza cause diarrhea?
The reported signs and symptoms of avian influenza A virus infections in humans have ranged from mild to severe and included conjunctivitis, influenza-like illness (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches) sometimes accompanied by nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting, severe respiratory illness (e.g..
What does psittacosis do to humans?
In humans, the symptoms are fever, headache, chills, muscle pains, cough, and sometimes breathing difficulty or pneumonia. If left untreated, the disease can be severe, and even result in death, especially in older people. Some people may only experience mild flu-like illness, or have no illness at all.
What is bird flu How can it spread in humans?
The disease is transmitted via contact with an infected bird’s feces, or secretions from its nose, mouth or eyes. Open-air markets, where eggs and birds are sold in crowded and unsanitary conditions, are hotbeds of infection and can spread the disease into the wider community.
How do you test for psittacosis in humans?
Psittacosis is most commonly diagnosed by serologic testing. Antibodies to Chlamydia psittaci can be detected using microimmunofluorescence (MIF), complement fixation (CF), and immunofluorescent antibody tests (IFA).
How long does human psittacosis last?
Some reports show that inflammation of the liver, lining of the heart cavity, the heart muscle, and the brain can occur. The course of the disease is variable and it can result in death. However, fatal cases are rare. In mild cases, fever may continue for three weeks or more.
Why are epidemiologists particularly concerned about bird influenza viruses?
There is concern that avian influenza viruses that are known to have infected humans could change into a form easily spread from birds to humans and then from human to human. If this were to happen, what is known as an influenza pandemic could occur.
