Understanding Bird Flu
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You've probably heard the recent scare in the media about avian flu, also known as bird flu, and may be wondering if you or your family members are at risk. Here is some information that will help in understanding avian or bird flu.
What is avian or bird flu?
It's hard to miss the news reports about "bird flu" and the speculation that it could spread like wildfire across the globe and become the next flu pandemic. The H5N1 virus strain of bird flu is what has scientists so concerned. The H5N1 bird flu virus is spread when wild birds pass the virus along to birds such as chickens or ducks that are being raised for human consumption. While the wild birds do not seem to be affected by the virus,...more
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When and Where Do People Usually Get the Flu?
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Influenza, or the flu, is a respiratory infection caused by a variety of flu viruses. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 35-50 million Americans come down with the flu each flu season, which typically lasts from November to March.
Children are two to three times more likely than adults to get the flu and frequently spread the virus to others. Although most people recover from the illness, CDC estimates that in the U.S. more than 100,000 people are hospitalized and about 36,000 people die from the flu and its complications every year
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What is Influenza?
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Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae (the influenza viruses), that affects birds and mammals.The most common symptoms of the disease are chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness/fatigue and general discomfort. Sore throat, fever and coughs are the most frequent symptoms. In more serious cases, influenza causes pneumonia, which can be fatal, particularly for the young and the elderly. Although it is often confused with other influenza-like illnesses, especially the common cold, influenza is a more severe disease than the common cold...more
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