How will the Bird Flu effect the Audobon society?
468623
The highly pathogenic form of H5N1 avian influenza virus has not been found in wild birds in North America. \n\nIn 2005, a low pathogenic form of H5N1, which is not thought to pose a danger to poultry or humans, was found in wild ducks in Canada. There is a chance that infected wild birds from Asia could bring the highly pathogenic form of the virus with them during spring or fall migration to North America. \n\nThe US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Geological Survey (USGS), Alaska Department of Fish & Game, and public health agencies are working together to test thousands of waterfowl and shorebirds for the virus in Alaska, and field sampling is being integrated with surveillance programs throughout the United States and Canada.
81722
Bird flu is spread by migratory birds and traveling people.
247424
It is highly unlikely. Bird flu is easily transmitted among birds and so far only transferred with difficulty among humans. The human victims have lived near chickens and so far the flu has not been transmited past one person. The concern is that the virus might change so that it is more easy for humans to catch it. If there is any suspicion that a bird may have bird flu, it is killed and being stored in a freezer after death would be likely to kill the virus.
720706
(m)\n\nThe symptoms of bird flu (Avian influenza) are\nSore throat\nCough\nFever\nPneumonia\nRespiratory distress\nRespiratory failure\nLife threatening complications\nThe symptoms of bird flu can depend on which virus caused the infection. If you have flu like symptoms the chances of you having Bird flu are very very very very small. Bird flu is a virus that primarily affects birds. Humans have caught the disease but only in a few very rare cases in the Far East and in Turkey. All people who have caught bird flu had close contact with infected birds.
220354
As it stands right now, most people are safe from the bird flu. The other answers are right in that you have to handle infected birds to get the virus. Most of the time, we are safe from a virus that is carried by another species. Occasionally, however, a virus mutates in such a way that it is able to "jump species" and infect humans. When this happens, our immune system is little prepared to defend us from the unusual-type virus. The good news is that right now it can only pass from birds to humans. If it should mutate to the point that humans can pass it amongst themselves, then it will likely become pandemic. Therefore, the fears that people are having are based on "scientific possibility" and the government is responding to those fears; not creating the fear.
106602
I am afraid that the virus that causes bird flu will mutate and become airborne. That would be like the black plague. However, as of now, there is no need to panic. Even when the disease enters the US, for as long as there is no human to human transfer, just fowl to human, there is no need to panic. Just like any virus, the disease is self-limiting. What we have to do to prevent it is to boost our immune system and keep our bodies healthy
109083
Key Facts About Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) and Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus\nE-mail this page\nPrinter-friendly version\nWhat You Should Know About Avian Flu\nKey Facts\nInfections in Humans\nQuestions & Answers\nCurrent Situation\nThis fact sheet provides general information about avian influenza (bird flu) and information about one type of bird flu, called avian influenza A (H5N1), that has caused infections in birds in Asia and Europe and in humans in Asia. Also see Questions and Answers on the CDC website and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the World Health Organization (WHO) website.\n\nAvian Influenza (Bird Flu)\nAvian influenza in birds\nAvian influenza is an infection caused by avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses. These influenza viruses occur naturally among birds. Wild birds worldwide carry the viruses in their intestines, but usually do not get sick from them. However, avian influenza is very contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill them.\n\nInfected birds shed influenza virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Susceptible birds become infected when they have contact with contaminated secretions or excretions or with surfaces that are contaminated with secretions or excretions from infected birds. Domesticated birds may become infected with avian influenza virus through direct contact with infected waterfowl or other infected poultry, or through contact with surfaces (such as dirt or cages) or materials (such as water or feed) that have been contaminated with the virus.\n\nInfection with avian influenza viruses in domestic poultry causes two main forms of disease that are distinguished by low and high extremes of virulence. The “low pathogenic” form may go undetected and usually causes only mild symptoms (such as ruffled feathers and a drop in egg production). However, the highly pathogenic form spreads more rapidly through flocks of poultry. This form may cause disease that affects multiple internal organs and has a mortality rate that can reach 90-100% often within 48 hours.\n\nHuman infection with avian influenza viruses\nThere are many different subtypes of type A influenza viruses. These subtypes differ because of changes in certain proteins on the surface of the influenza A virus (hemagglutinin [HA] and neuraminidase [NA] proteins). There are 16 known HA subtypes and 9 known NA subtypes of influenza A viruses. Many different combinations of HA and NA proteins are possible. Each combination represents a different subtype. All known subtypes of influenza A viruses can be found in birds.\n\nUsually, “avian influenza virus” refers to influenza A viruses found chiefly in birds, but infections with these viruses can occur in humans. The risk from avian influenza is generally low to most people, because the viruses do not usually infect humans. However, confirmed cases of human infection from several subtypes of avian influenza infection have been reported since 1997. Most cases of avian influenza infection in humans have resulted from contact with infected poultry (e.g., domesticated chicken, ducks, and turkeys) or surfaces contaminated with secretion/excretions from infected birds. The spread of avian influenza viruses from one ill person to another has been reported very rarely, and transmission has not been observed to continue beyond one person.\n\n“Human influenza virus” usually refers to those subtypes that spread widely among humans. There are only three known A subtypes of influenza viruses (H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2) currently circulating among humans. It is likely that some genetic parts of current human influenza A viruses came from birds originally. Influenza A viruses are constantly changing, and they might adapt over time to infect and spread among humans.\n\nDuring an outbreak of avian influenza among poultry, there is a possible risk to people who have contact with infected birds or surfaces that
309598
I think they would have to. That pic is probably the CDC not taking any chances, but if someone showed up with it, they couldn't keep doctors and hospitals quiet. I hate to say it, but the US has enough on its plate now not having to deal with Bird Flu.
217729
I think both also.\nI have to say though that there is a very real possibility that over the next few years this virus will mutate so that it can be spread from person to person.\nViruses generally adapt to their hosts and mutate as neede but this process takes time. Right now it is only spread from infected bird to human, if it mutates so that the person infected by the bird can also spread it to other humans we will have a huge problem. There is no cure right now and its fatality rate is quite high.
301002
The reason we watch asian flus is b/c the farms there are set up w/ ponds where ducks rest and pigs drink. The duck/bird strains are more likely to mutate to the pig first than to a human- the catch is, a pig is actually very close to us as far as internal working go, and it is easier for a pig strain (origianlly from a bird) can then mutate to infect the farmers... and then spread to the general population. So the likelihood... good. Pray. Peace out.
406919
First things first: Bird Flu in a human is of minimal concern until the virus learns how to go from person to person.  The presence of AIDS has nothing whatever to do with that; it just makes the AIDS victim more susceptible to the virus, when it finds its way on board.\n\nOnce it becomes able to spread from person to person, if it retains its virulence (not a guarantee, but it's a bet that we'd better hedge) it'll decimate the population.  The AIDS victims might go faster, and have a higher mortality rate--frankly, it's not unlikely that such would be the case--but it would be devastating.\n\nFURTHER CAVEAT!!!  If, as appears likely, a functional vaccine against Avian Influenza (what docs call Bird Flu) is available by the time that happens, the AIDS patients will be likely to suffer more, but they won't be alone; other immunologically compromised folks (the malnourished, the frail elderly, the multiply-chronically-ill, and others) will be easy victims, too.  The younger and vigorous will have a much better chance if there is a vaccine.  The same is true if novel neuraminidase inhibitors are developed to treat the disease, too.\n\nThis is a remarkably superficial analysis, but I think it contains the basics.
220644
its called the H5N1 virus, and bird flu is more specifically known as the avian flu
102622
I read that the only people that are really in danger of getting the bird flu, are people that handle chickens on a regular basis, i.e. those people that raise them, and are in close contact with them all the time.  I really don't think it will reach this side of the globe.\n\nOh sorry, I thought you said South America.
102892
at this point, I am very concerned since only insects outnumber the birds in the world and they are airborn. The mutation could occur at any moment and infect humans. This is how the flu of 1917 or so occured and spread rapidly
238804
It is my understanding that several US government agencies will be involved in handling the bird flu virus, contingent on how widespread it ultimately becomes. I don't believe FEMA is one of them. The most obvious choice is the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. In any event, under the present administration, I wouldn't trust FEMA to handle the common cold.
536157
The news media will do anything to raise ratings. Including over-hyping every single thing to scare people into watching. \n\nRelax, this whole bird-flu thing will blow over soon enough.
150583
In people, bird flu usually begins much like conventional influenza, with fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches, but bird flu can lead to life-threatening complications.