All you need to know about Bird Flu
India has reported its first case of human infection and death from Bird Flu. A 12-year-old boy, who had been infected with the influenza virus, was admitted to AIIMS on July 2, and he was pronounced dead on Tuesday. Amid speculations around the possible third wave of coronavirus pandemic, the news has raised a lot of concern amongst the netizens.
What is Bird Flu?
Bird flu is an infection caused by avian influenza Type A viruses which are commonly found in wild birds.
Recent reports have suggested that bird flu can also cause possible human infections.
The influenza virus has been categorised under two proteins, which are Hemagglutinin(HA) and Neuraminidase(NA). With 18 HA subtypes and 11 NA subtypes, there can be many combinations of the virus such as H5N1, H9N6, H17N10, H7N2, etc.
Is it prevalent amongst humans?
As the name suggests, bird flu is commonly detected in birds and can pose great risks to poultry, such as chicken, turkeys, ducks and more.
Experts believe that while it is possible for humans to contract the infection, it is extremely rare and unusual.
The tragic death of a 12-year-boy at AIIMS was the first case of human infection reported in India. According to AIIMS chief Randeep Guleria, the samples from the patient were tested and confirmed for bird flu by the National Institute of Virology, Pune.
When and where was the first human infection of Bird flu detected?
China had recently reported the first case of human infection with the H10N3 strain of bird flu in a 41-year-old man from the country's eastern Jiangsu province. China's National Health Commission had confirmed that the man had soon recovered from the disease.
Is Bird Flu concerning? Can it spread from one person to another?
While bird flu is a dangerous disease, Dr. Randeep Guleria on Wednesday said "The transmission of the virus from birds to humans is rare and sustained human-to-human transmission of the H5N1 virus has not yet been established and therefore there is no need to panic."
"But then people working closely with poultry must take precautionary measures and maintain proper personal hygiene," he added.
Associated symptoms
According to the Centre of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), signs and symptoms of Bird flu vary from mild to moderate infections. Some of the symptoms that have been reported are as follows.
- Fever, fatigue, joint pain and muscle aches
- Respiratory illnesses such as cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, chest pain, difficulty in breathing and more
- Digestive issues such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting and nausea