Avian influenza: symptoms in humans. Bird Flu Epidemic
Recently, you often hear about bird flu. What is this disease and how to treat it? Can a person get it, and what should I do in this case? What do we know about this disease, which appeared just over a hundred years ago? Perhaps, of course, that it existed before, just people could not then discover its cause and classify it. And about the facts of infection of people it became known only recently.
Sad Statistics
Unfortunately, cases of bird flu have been relatively rare, but they are already a fait accompli. And the number of deaths from this terrible disease is hundreds. It is important to remember that treatment should begin almost immediately, after the appearance of the first symptoms. The disease develops quickly, and with a high probability (up to fifty percent) can lead to a fatal outcome.
Therefore, everyone should be able to distinguish between the symptoms of avian flu, and take all the necessary precautions. And let today much more talk about Ebola, in fact it is not so dangerous. Its main trump card is the lack of an active vaccine. The vaccine already exists from bird flu, although it is quite expensive. But the virus that causes it is so easily and often mutated that under certain circumstances a strain can arise, against which a person has neither immunity nor a vaccine. And the flu is transmitted by airborne droplets, which in a short time can lead to the infection of millions of people. For examples, you do not need to go far. The same "Spaniard" killed about a hundred million people... In the twentieth century there were two smaller pandemics. We are saved only by the fact that, unlike Ebola, bird flu is not transmitted between people yet. But they can easily get infected from poultry.
Causative agent
The international name for this species is H5N1 (avian influenza in humans). What do the letters and numbers mean here? The disease causes an RNA-containing virus that contains 2 antigens. This is neuraminidase and hemagglutin - they are denoted by these letters. There are nine variants of the first and 16 - the second. The most dangerous combinations are H5N1 and H7N7. And in general it would be more correct to add in the beginning also to letter A, since it is to influenza type A that these viruses belong.
Prehistory
For the first time about bird flu was heard in 1878. Then in Italy there was an outbreak of disease affecting the chickens. But at that time he had a completely different name. Local veterinarian Eduardo Perronchito classified him then as chicken typhus. After a while, the disease was already called the classical plague of birds. Well, the fact that the epidemic with high lethality causes the flu virus, it became known only in 1955. Modern disease was only given its name in 1971.
Influenza is one of the most common acute respiratory diseases in humans. Only in our country they suffer up to thirty million people every year. And there are other viral diseases. Depressing statistics, although effective medication already exists. This is both Tamiflu and Arbidol. It is pitiable that people do not always start treatment on time, endure the disease "on their feet and sometimes they refuse to do vaccinations. The latter is doubly dangerous in the event of an epidemic of avian influenza. But about this later. Negative consequences, including fatal outcome, develop mainly due to complications. Keep in mind that the flu is especially dangerous for cores and patients with diabetes mellitus.
But this virus does not only affect people. It has long been noted that animals and birds are affected by different influenza strains. For some, it is absolutely harmless. And they, apparently, are its natural reservoirs. In the case of avian influenza, these are waterfowl, such as wild ducks and geese. For others, it is deadly.
Avian influenza: symptoms in humans
Symptoms of the disease are manifested one or two days after direct infection. The symptoms of avian influenza are similar to those that appear when a virus is already familiar to humans. As a rule, it is high temperature, intoxication and catarrhal phenomena. Then the lungs are affected. This is what distinguishes it from ordinary human influenza, in which the upper respiratory tract is most affected. Infectious-toxic shock can develop, as well as cerebral edema. Complication goes to the liver, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, such signs of avian flu as diarrhea and vomiting are not uncommon. But at the beginning of the disease a person can simply feel weakness and malaise. With development, complications are possible. As can be seen from all of the above, distinguishing avian influenza from the habitual human in the early stages is not easy. In such cases, accompanying symptoms will help.
For example, a sick person is a veterinarian or an employee of a poultry farm. Either the malaise began after contact with a sick person, or someone from a familiar patient recently returned from a region where viral diseases are raging (in particular, avian influenza). You also need to be careful if you learn about the outbreak of disease in your area.
Varieties
For today it is known about the existence of one and a half thousand viruses, five hundred of which are dangerous for humans. Among the strains of influenza are deadly to humans - avian and porcine. It seems, not too much: twenty-four are pathogenic for birds. How can a person get sick? It turns out, it's very simple.
Methods of transmission
In fact, in nature there is a species barrier, which usually does not allow diseases to be transmitted from one animal or bird to another. But, apparently, in some cases it can be circumvented. There is even an assumption that the strain of bird flu is man-made.
The same, by the way, they speak about the latest version of Ebola. In the case of avian influenza, there is information that pharmaceutical corporations controlled by the United States government infected them with woodpeckers in Asia. For what purpose this was done, remains a mystery. But it is possible that the virus was thus used as a biological weapon. More details about this can be found if you watch the documentary "Pandemic of lies". Basically, it, of course, refers to the epidemic of swine flu that swept the world a few years ago. On the court of the public are statements of scientists and data of experiments that speak about the harm of the then used vaccine in the US. There will always be people who want to make a biological weapon out of a deadly disease. How and why the virus began to spread from birds to humans, is completely unknown. And now we only need to observe precautions and learn to recognize the symptoms.
Precautions
As already mentioned above, in all likelihood, wild ducks are the natural reservoir of avian influenza. But, perhaps, not only they. From them, the virus is easily transmitted to poultry at poultry farms and private farms. Therefore, in the risk group, first of all, employees of such enterprises and farmers are located.
As manifested in birds
In order not to become infected, to take security measures in time and to see a doctor, you need to know the symptoms of bird flu in birds. First of all pay attention to the chickens. If they have an unhealthy appearance, they cease to carry eggs, their feathers are ruffled, and the crests are blackened, then this is cause for concern. As a rule, if there is avian influenza, the symptoms of chickens are also high fever, diarrhea and retardation.
It is quite easy to get infected from poultry: there is enough and direct contact. Therefore, after household chores, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. And if there are suspicions that your, for example, chickens are unhealthy, then the clothes in which you were, it is better to immediately wash. And after carefully monitor your well-being. And consult a doctor with the slightest suspicion of avian influenza. Symptoms in humans are usually noticeable on the second day. With the confirmation of avian influenza, treatment should be carried out in a hospital. Poultry is completely destroyed. And although there is no evidence that the virus can be transmitted through heat-treated meat, the feathered fowl can not be eaten. After all, you can catch it when processing. Mortality among poultry in case of flu is up to one hundred percent.
Increase immunity
This is another way to not become infected with a dangerous disease. Do in the morning exercises. Often go on fresh air, temper your body. And also do not forget about your intestines - because the bacteria responsible for immunity live there.
Pandemic
The epidemic of bird flu worldwide is, in principle, possible. The fact is that usually such a virus is not transmitted from person to person. And you can get infected only from the bird. But if a person who already suffers from an ordinary flu is ill, then a fatal mutation can occur in his body. And a strain is formed that will be transmitted between people. There is no current vaccine against such a flu. It is not hard to guess that such a virus will be fatal to humans. Another option is the infection of pigs from chickens, and then the infection of a person.
If the bird flu in chickens, the only way to avoid a pandemic is to destroy all individuals. However, according to some scientists, one can hardly avoid another large-scale outbreak of the disease in the next few years. And because it is important to meet the bird flu fully armed.
Finally
The world around a person is not at all safe. And for our life and health there are many threats. But not all of them are obvious. In recent years, scientists have come to understand that the smaller the body, the more damage it can cause. These are bacteria and viruses. Although the latter are not considered alive in the full sense of the word. Here is the bird flu. It would seem that the disease does not apply to a person, but time has passed - and everything has changed. And now this virus is among the most dangerous. And if you are a poultry owner and live outside the city, then you are already at risk. After all, although chickens, for example, can get infected from wild ducks and geese, the probability of this, it turns out, is not so small. Epidemics in poultry farms are evidence of this. Therefore, the mechanism of transmission is not quite clear.
Well, if you notice any suspicious symptoms from your pets, report this to the veterinarian as soon as possible. And observe the strictest precautions. In any case, avoid eating poorly cooked chicken and eggs. Whether to take mandatory vaccination against the flu - everyone decide for themselves. On the one hand, it can save you in case of infection with an ordinary virus. On the other hand, it is by no means a fact that it will prove effective in the case of the bird. However, before vaccination, carefully assess your state of health: if you have a temperature or your Immunity is weakened by some other disease, do not rush to vaccinate a weakened virus influenza. Your body can not immediately cope with it, and you will get sick.
syl.ru
Bird flu
What is avian influenza? This is a serious disease that affects birds and then people. It is excited by the H5N1 virus, causing complex symptoms: difficulty with breathing, damage to the digestive system, and high mortality. This virus is especially dangerous, because it infects people too fast and changes too quickly, which makes all usual vaccines useless.
Where did the bird flu come from?
It was first discovered by Italian veterinarian Perroncito in 1878. He called it chicken flu, and subsequently this disease was dubbed a chicken plague because of its high prevalence. The scientist concluded that the disease is a viral nature. The virus is called Influenza virus A, and it belongs to the influenza viruses, because it has a similar structure, as well as an antigenic kit. Then the Italian did not yet know how dangerous this virus is and how many people it will be able to hit.
More on Avian Influenza Viruses
When doctors invented the vaccine against avian flu, they included 16 different types of hemagglutinin, which is designated by the letter H, as well as 9 different types of neuraminidase, which are denoted by the letter N in the formula of this virus.
In total, the combinations of avian influenza are as many as 144, because it is divided into subtypes. The most dangerous types of viruses for birds are H7 and H5. The virus is very susceptible to the external environment and perishes if the surface is treated with a bactericidal solution, even in small amounts. But in a cool environment, the virus lives longer.
Where does the influenza virus come from?
It is found inside birds, most often wild and predominantly ducks. At them to this type of a virus the proof immunity. But if they infect the virus of domestic ducks or chickens, they die very quickly.
Among the most common combinations of the avian influenza virus is A / H5N1. According to the forecasts of medical experts, it is this virus that can cause a pandemic all over the globe. The strain is very virulent, that is, it can spread very widely. If a person comes into contact with a sick bird or her meat, he is able to catch bird flu. Especially dangerous strain of this flu in combination with others - human and pork, then the strain of influenza changes and acquires special treachery.
More on the bird flu virus
For the first time, cases of the incidence of avian influenza in the public became known in 1997 in Hong Kong. Then the number of deaths reached more than 60%. Those people, whose manifestations of the disease were weak, did not go to the doctors, otherwise the percentage of those who died would be even higher. The most vulnerable region of the spread of avian influenza was South-East Asia.
Compared to conventional influenza, the incidence of avian influenza is certainly much lower, but the mutation of this virus causes serious concern among scientists. His possible pandemic is compared with the infamous "Spaniard which troubled the whole world in 1918-1919. Then because of this virus, up to 100 million people died.
There are speculations of scientists that avian influenza can cause a new pandemic, which can be the culprit of more than 150 million deaths throughout the planet. Therefore, vaccination against regular influenza once a year is a logical defense against bird flu, since a specific vaccine has not been invented yet.
Symptoms of avian influenza in birds
As soon as the virus strikes the bird, the disease can take place in a latent form from 20 to 48 hours. The bird shows a clearly visible inhibition, the bird does not bear eggs, and drinks a lot. The feathers of a sick bird stick out in different directions, her eyes turn red. A beak is released from the beak, and before the bird dies, its earrings and a crest are bluish. These symptoms can be accompanied by cramps and unstable gait.
When a bird exposed to the flu is opened, doctors notice bleeding in the respiratory tract and on the mucous membranes of the digestive tract, as well as on the liver and kidneys.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to cure such birds - they perish. In order not to infect other birds and people sick with bird flu of individuals are destroyed.
What are the symptoms of avian flu in humans?
- The temperature is raised to 39 degrees Celsius and above
- The man is chilling
- Head and muscles ache
- There is dry cough
- There is pharyngitis
- Eyes red and watery, doctors diagnose conjunctivitis
- There may be vomiting, delayed breathing, severe pneumonia, which is rapidly developing
- Most often, the bird flu in humans ends in a lethal outcome
Doctors also observe a so-called cytokine storm in avian influenza. Cytokines are substances that secrete the body's immune system in response to the invasion of avian influenza viruses. It is noteworthy that it is the avian influenza viruses that cause so many cytokines as the body's response to the intervention of influenza pathogens. Therefore, the already listed symptoms are manifested - high fever, headache and so on. Because of the large number of cytokines, organ tissues are destroyed in the place where the infection has penetrated, therefore the body systems can be disconnected. The person dies.
Is Avian Flu Treated?
Yes, it is treated with new generation drugs that can affect most strains of influenza. This zanamivir, as well as oseltamivir (known as Tamiflu - by the name of the brand that produces it). It is not known whether other drugs can interfere with avian influenza viruses.
Avian Influenza Prevention
As we have already mentioned, the vaccine against avian flu has not yet been invented. Although scientists from all over the world work on it. Therefore, it is important to adhere to the usual methods of preventing avian influenza
- Do not allow the child to play with birds, especially if they show signs of illness
- Do not buy unchecked meat
- If you keep domestic birds that suddenly died, do not touch them without gloves
- After you have destroyed the sick bird, you need to wash your hands thoroughly and wash your clothes
- If, after touching the bird, you develop flu symptoms, you should urgently consult a physician-therapist
Avian influenza, fortunately, is very rare in our country. But all the same, you should follow all the precautions that will allow you to stay healthy.
ilive.com.ua
Symptoms and Diagnosis of Avian Influenza
Avian influenza is an infection, the causative agent of which is a certain type of avian influenza virus. This disease exists in many variations, but the most dangerous species is H5N1. Wild and domestic poultry are exposed to it, which in this case can not be sick, but can only be carriers of the disease. The higher resistance of wild birds to the impact of the virus was revealed, rather than in representatives of domestic populations.
Avian influenza in humans is in the defeat of the respiratory system and the gastrointestinal tract, while this strain of influenza is characterized by a high level of mortality.
Initially, the bird flu was called "chicken typhus" and "chicken plague." It was first discovered in 1878 by a veterinarian from Italy. But after determining the viral base of the disease, the disease was renamed "bird flu".
The spread of avian influenza in humans
There are not so many cases of human infection with avian influenza, but a significant part of them still ended in the death of patients.
In Hong Kong in 1997, the first case of infection of avian influenza not only birds but also humans was recorded. As a result of the outbreak, 18 people were hospitalized, 6 of whom died. In each case, the transmission of the pathogen was established directly from birds to humans.Two years later, two cases of the disease were re-registered in Hong Kong, each of which culminated in the cure of infected patients.
Bird flu reminded of itself in Hong Kong already in 2003, when 2 members of the same family became ill. This case of infection ended in one fatal outcome. In the same year, the outbreak of the virus was also registered in the Netherlands, where 86 people were infected who took care of sick birds. These cases of infection proceeded without obvious symptoms and were limited to eye infections and the fatal outcome of one patient.
The greatest outbreak was recorded in 2004. For the first time, a significant mutation of the virus was detected.
To date, cases of infection with avian influenza have also been recorded in Cambodia, Thailand, Turkey and Indonesia. The total number of infections is about 200.
Ways of infection with avian influenza
The main category of carriers of a dangerous virus are birds. A person can become infected as a result of contact with sick birds. According to scientists, some animals can also carry the virus, which does not have disease manifestations. Infection often occurs in an airborne way, in which a harmful microorganism enters the respiratory tract or eyes. But isolated cases of infection after contact with sick people have been identified.Most of the infections occur after all as a result of direct contact with the vectors of the virus. At the same time, the probability of infection with influenza through use in the food of the meat of the infected bird, since the virus was killed when exposed to high temperatures. But this does not apply to eating eggs in raw form.
Symptoms of Bird Flu
The presence of the disease can be difficult to recognize, because in many cases, the development of the disease can be asymptomatic. Signs of the flu, which affected the bird, can consist in reducing egg production, as well as various violations of the respiratory system. But the manifestation of the disease can acquire a lightning form, in which the rapid death of birds occurs.
Symptoms of avian influenza in humans are:
- fever;
- cough;
- coryza;
- pharyngitis;
- an increase in body temperature (in some cases there was a rise in temperature to a mark of 39 degrees);
- disorders of the functioning of the digestive tract;
- the appearance of bleeding from the gums;
- pain in the muscles.
Signs of avian influenza differ little from the symptoms of an ordinary disease, which is the reason for the difficulty of diagnosis.
Avian influenza can provoke the development of eye infection (conjunctivitis). Against the background of the disease can develop pneumonia or respiratory distress syndrome - an ailment that affects the lungs and often ends in death.
It was found that about 8 days pass from the moment of infection to the death of the patient. In this acute respiratory failure is observed only 5-6 days after the appearance of the first signs of the disease.
Diagnosis of avian influenza
Avian influenza is dangerous high probability of completion of the fatal outcome of the patient, therefore timely and correct diagnosis is extremely important.The specialist diagnoses after physical examination of the patient, interviewing and analyzing the results of some studies. If a bird flu is suspected, the doctor may inquire about preliminary contacts with birds, cases consumption of eggs and chicken meat in raw form, by contact with a person suffering from this strain influenza.
As additional studies, a blood test and a chest X-ray can be performed.
Treatment of the disease
Treatment of avian influenza depends on what organs were affected. It was noted the high effectiveness of the use of various antiviral drugs.
A patient with signs of bird flu should be necessarily placed in an isolated room. In contact with the patient, all employees of the medical institution are obliged to use personal protective equipment in the form of dressing gowns and gloves.
.As the results of many studies show, medications developed for all types of influenza affecting the human body can be used to treat the disease. But there is a high probability of increasing the resistance of the avian influenza virus to the drugs used.
A common medicine for avian influenza is often represented by a neuraminidase inhibitor. There is no established duration of treatment and the necessary dosage of drugs, so specialists give preference to the doses that have been approved.
If suspected of avian influenza, any methods of self-medication should be excluded, since this disease requires immediate hospitalization of the patient.
Avian Influenza Prevention
If, after contact with poultry, the first signs of flu show up, you should immediately seek qualified help.
Vaccines from this serious disease still does not exist, so great attention should be paid to the prevention of the disease. Special caution is needed during the epidemic.
At this time, it is necessary to avoid visiting poultry farms and any contact with poultry, open markets for the sale of live birds.
If there are birds in the household, it is necessary to protect children from any contact with them.
.In case of death of the animal to it it is not recommended to touch without gloves on hands. After the destruction of the dead bird, the clothes should be washed and the hands thoroughly washed.
A person who is to travel to a country with an epidemic of avian influenza should consult with a specialist about carrying out the necessary vaccinations. This should be done a few weeks before the trip. Such measures will help prevent common influenza and exclude it in further diagnosis of avian influenza in the event of infection.
It is recommended that gauze bandages be used continuously, with a constant change at least every three hours.
You should also remember the rules of personal hygiene, involving frequent washing of hands, as well as the refusal to eat raw or poorly cooked eggs and poultry.
Great attention should be paid to improving immunity. To this end, the diet should be diluted with various foods saturated with vitamins. As additional measures can be used drugs that stimulate immunity.
Be careful!
respiratoria.ru
