Question 1

what are some of the non-drug treatments for bird flu?

Accepted Answer

The non drug treatments for Bird flu include::   Isolation, Supportive care.

Question 2

is bird flu dangerous?

Accepted Answer

Overall mortality: rates in humans is about 60% - so yes, it is dangerous.

Question 3

how is bird flu spread?

Accepted Answer

Like other flu: Bird flu is usually acquired through close contact with birds and breathing their respiratory secretions.  It usually does not spread from person to person, thank god!

Question 4

how do you get bird flu?

Accepted Answer

Not easily: Our cdc and other international agencies keep track of the number of cases and try to kill infected birds.  So far, most of those infected have been poultry workers, in close contact with birds.  There is some concern that transmission to other animals or humans may become easier, but that has not yet happened.

Question 5

what happened with bird flu?

Accepted Answer

Still around: The virus is still around and has caused disease in the east. See this site for more info.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/h7n9-virus.htm.

Question 6

how is bird flu transmitted?

Accepted Answer

Direct contact: Direct contact with infected birds is the only known way to contract this variety of flu.

Question 7

where did bird flu originate?

Accepted Answer

Southeast Asia: In many areas pigs and ducks and humans are in close proximity in agricultural communities. They can be infected with more than one variety of influenza at the same time and admixture of genetic material occurs dramatically changing the infectivity and virulence of the virus. Under certain circumstances the virus obtains the ability to infect humans and we have a new epidemic.

Question 8

how do people treat bird flu?

Accepted Answer

Support: Most of the treatment is supportive, meaning supplemental oxygen if needed, or even mechanical ventilatory support if respiratory failure. It is recommended patients be treated with the anti-influenza drug "tamiflu" if the present with symptoms early enough. Other measures of non specific support may be needed, IV fluids etc.. Depending on the severity of illness.

Question 9

what is the risk for bird flu?

Accepted Answer

Not entirely known: So far it has infected only persons involved with raising birds, primarily poultry, and does not seem to readily infect other animal species.  If the recognized cases are all there are then it has a high fatality rate.  The obvious question is can it cross species and create human to human infection?  The other risk is that scientists have changed it to infect humans & could be used by terrorists.

Question 10

what's it mean to have bird flu?

Accepted Answer

Influenza H5N1 var: This years influenza variant was first noted in wild birds and is the h5n1 type - so its an influenza virus that people contracted from birds in asia.  It responds well to most influenza drugs.  It is not a particularly deadly form of the virus - but note that influenza does lead to the deaths of thousands of americans a year every year.

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What are some of the non-drug treatments for bird flu?

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How is bird flu spread?

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How do you get bird flu?

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What happened with bird flu?

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How is bird flu transmitted?

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Where did bird flu originate?

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How do people treat bird flu?

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What is the risk for bird flu?

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What's it mean to have bird flu?

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