53

Bird Flu … What Can We Do? "February 2006"

Bird Flu is an infectious disease caused by a deadly virus; these viruses exist naturally among birds, especially wild birds that carry them in their intestines all over the world. Usually they don't get ill because of it, but this disease is very infectious among poultries such as chickens, ducks and turkeys, which lead to their death.
It was known that Bird Flu infects only birds, but the first case of human infection was discovered in Hong Kong in 1997. humans are infected with Bird Flu through dealing (fractioning) directly with infected birds, the virus gets out of their bodies through their excrements that turns into dust carried by air. Bird Flu symptoms are similar to those of other types of Flu. There are many types of Bird Flu, but the most dangerous known type is "H5N1" as it increases the possibility of death among infected human beings, as it can live for long periods inside the bird's tissues and excrements especially in low temperature atmosphere.
Researches indicated that medicine prescribed by doctors for treating normal human flu will succeed in curing people infected with Bird Flu, but these medications couldn't always be useful, as more research needs to be done to define the affectivity and efficiency of these medications.v The most people vulnerable to being infected with Bird Flu are:
• Poultry farm workers.
• Poultry and bird market workers.
• Anyone who deals directly with poultry and birds.
• The medical team that follows up Bird Flu cases.
To avoid infection, we must keep away from any place that is full of live poultry and birds where the virus could spread. We don't have to stop eating chicken because the Bird Flu virus doesn't spread through eating, but we must the necessity of very good cooking. Although about 200 human cases were infected with Bird Flu worldwide, bu that cannot be compared with the huge number of infected birds.
How could the virus spread and infect human being?
• Direct fractioning with wild birds that carry the disease and don't have any symptoms.
• Flying dribble and respiratory system excretions from the bird's beaks.
• Polluted clothes and shoes in farms and markets.
• Any used tools that could be polluted with this virus like cages, eating and drinking utensils and barn floors.
• The virus is highly concentrated in the bird's excrements, as it is used in fertilizing agrarian lands.
• Farm animals like mice, cats and dogs that act as mediators in carrying the virus to human beings.
• Migrant birds and maybe planes carrying workers who come from infected countries.
What are the Symptoms of this Disease?
A. Bird Symptoms:
• Sudden death.
• Seclusion and loss of appetite.
• Extreme reduction in the egg production and thinness of the egg shells.
• Dropsy (edema) in the head of the bird that could reach the neck, and the poultry combs turn blue.
• Mucous secretions from the nose and dripping of saliva from the beak.
• Frizzing of the feathers.
• Diarrhea and loss of liquids.
B. Human Symptoms:
• Headaches and shivering.
• Muscle pain and fever.
• Dry cough and inflammation in the eye conjunctiva (conjunctivitis)
In extreme cases the virus can be deadly.
The Egyptian government bears a big responsibility in facing the spread of this disease and compensating farmers, farm owners and shops. Citizens in Egypt must be kept up to date with the latest developments and facts about this issie. The different media means must help in raising citizens awareness about how to avoid being infected with this virus, and officials at the veterinary supervision must observe he gathering areas of migrant birds, take samples of them, analyze them and make periodical and continuous checkups on birds in farms and houses and on workers in this field all over Egypt, in addition to making the necessary procedures in facing the spread of this disease.