Are pigeon-fanciers more at risk from bird flu than duck-pluckers?
606348
NO more than a pheasent fu*k*r.
605630
No. No they can't. \nBird flu can only be passed from a chicken to a human (or mammal) by deeply inhaling some bird poo particles. Eating an egg is not going to give you flu. The same goes for eating the actual chicken - as it is you have to cook it above 100 degrees C to make sure it has no samonella, and H5N1 will not survive that sort of heat.\n\nCheck out www.bbc.co.uk then go to the news page and search for bird flu.
1179280
It has to do with the level of industrialization of countries, I think.  In the US, for instance, people don't have their children pluck chickens to eat, because we have machines that do it for us.  (The first and most common cases of bird flu in Asia are young boys who pluck chickens, it's this contact with the dead birds bloody body that passes the disease)  If there was a virus in chickens, a)it would die on the dead bird before people bought it because it couldn't feed off the dead bird's cells, or b) it would be killed in our ultra-efficient gas stoves.  We don't like to kill animals or handle their bodies in the US because our level of industrialization is such that we don't have to, so, less chance of bird flu.\n\nIn Africa, the spread of and the inception of diseases also has to do with industrialization because people tend to live closer to wild animals and to forest or jungle (We clear large swaths of land to build huge cities or suburban towns, but in smaller African towns people live nearer to wildlife).  This is why sometimes diseases like AIDS or Ebola will "come out of the jungle", meaning that someone had an encounter with a wild animal who had the disease, and they spread it to others in the town.  People tavelling from town to town or from towns to cities bring the diseases far, but they originate when people have encounters with wild animals.\n\nThe US is just so removed from wildlife because of our high level of industrialization that we don't often get diseases straight from animals: they have to be borne human-to-human to reach us, which I think in these cases is a good thing!
596086
All of the published medical journals I've read, report that after previous years, a vaccine, I believe, has been found to help control the illness. It's unfortunate about the individuals who became ill while working with domestic poultry, however research, particularly in Hong Kong, and other research facilities have made great headway. I hope that you are not someone who is at risk for illness. If you feel you're at risk, then go to your nearest public health facility in your country for help, and/or treatment. Best wishes!
446813
I know this wasn't really your question, but don't get too panicked about this.  There are other, more immediate threats to your health that you should worry about more than if they bird flue mutates.  You're more likely, at least in the immediate future to be run over by a car, for instance, so look both ways before you cross the street!\n\nIf you feel the need to stockpile food, this might be helpful for you psychologically.  Know, however, that they are working on a vaccination that may come in time.
270557
H5N1 is an avian influenza virus subtype. The H5N1 flu is what is commonly meant when speaking of "bird flu" or "avian influenza". It is a viral disease that causes illness in many species including humans and is a pandemic threat. Experts believe it might mutate into a form that transmits easily from person to person. If such a mutation occurs, it might remain an H5N1 subtype or could shift subtypes as did H2N2 when it evolved into the Hong Kong Flu strain of H3N2.\n\nH5N1 is widespread in the bird population. It is very easy for birds to catch avian flu from each other. Most humans known to have become infected had a lot of physical contact with infected birds, or, rarely, an infected relative. While H5N1 is mutating into variations which infect species not previously known to carry the virus, not all of these variations can infect humans.\n\nA highly pathogenic variation of H5N1 is currently spreading across the world from areas where it is endemic. Migrating waterfowl (wild ducks, geese, and swans) carry H5N1, often without themselves becoming sick. [1][2] Avian flu is also spread through domestic poultry, both through movements of infected birds and poultry products, and the use of infected poultry manure as fertiliser or feed. Humans with H5N1 have typically caught it from chickens, which were in turn infected by other poultry or waterfowl.\n\nH5N1 is currently endemic in birds in southeast Asia and is threatening to become endemic in birds everywhere else. Tens of millions of birds have died of H5N1 influenza and hundreds of millions of birds have been slaughtered and disposed of to try to control the spread of the disease [2].\n\nNot all cases of human H5N1 infection are reported and consequently the exact mortality rate is unknown. Earlier historical flu pandemics, which were also believed to be of avian origin, had reportedly an average mortality rate of 2.5-5%. The current projected worst case scenario for a H5N1 pandemic is somewhere around 150 million human deaths directly due to H5N1 infection (or two to three percent of the world's human population). No one knows what the chances are for this worst case scenario.\n\n\nHow do people become infected with avian influenza viruses? \n\nMost cases of avian influenza infection in humans have resulted from direct or close contact with infected poultry (e.g., domesticated chicken, ducks, and turkeys) or surfaces contaminated with secretions and excretions from infected birds. The spread of avian influenza viruses from an ill person to another person has been reported very rarely, and transmission has not been observed to continue beyond one person. During an outbreak of avian influenza among poultry, there is a possible risk to people who have direct or close contact with infected birds or with surfaces that have been contaminated with secretions and excretions from infected birds.   \n\n\nWhat are the symptoms of avian influenza in humans?\n\nSymptoms of avian influenza in humans have ranged from typical human influenza-like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches) to eye infections, pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases (such as acute respiratory distress syndrome), and other severe and life-threatening complications. The symptoms of avian influenza may depend on which specific virus subtype and strain caused the infection.\n\nHow is avian influenza detected in humans? \nA laboratory test is needed to confirm avian influenza in humans. \n\nWhat are the implications of avian influenza to human health? \nTwo main risks for human health from avian influenza are 1) the risk of direct infection when the virus passes from the infected bird to humans, sometimes resulting in severe disease; and 2) the risk that the virus – if given enough opportunities – will change into a form that is highly infectious for humans and spreads easily from person to person. \n\nHow is avian influenza in humans treated? \nStudies done in laboratories sug
260552
One time Radar was bitten by a dog and they thought he might have rabies, so they started giving him the shots while they tried to catch the dog and he got really sick and then they caught the dog and it didn't have rabies but I bet they had to kill the dog to find out.  THAT's who I am.  And I like pigeons, too. :)
268476
Avian 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 have been contaminated with secretions or excretions from infected birds.\n\nSymptoms of avian influenza in humans have ranged from typical human influenza-like symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches) to eye infections, pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases (such as acute respiratory distress), and other severe and life-threatening complications. The symptoms of avian influenza may depend on which virus caused the infection.\n\nStudies done in laboratories suggest that some of the prescription medicines approved in the United States for human influenza viruses should work in treating avian influenza infection in humans. However, i
430046
As of March 2006 ... 100 deaths due to bird flu.  The most overrated potential pandemic in the history of the world.  In Turkey some people blood tested for H5N1 and never got sick.  So, there may have been thousands infected but only 1% died. [Response to BACTERIA BOY: The evidence is from two brothers in Turkey.  One son got sick, so they tested his brother -- he was infected, but did not get sick.  So the death rate is no where near 50% as suggested. It is true we do not have human-to-human transmission -- which will change everything.  Correction to other posts: The 1918 pandemic killed about 40–50 million people worldwide. Links to stats would be helpful. Tks.]\n\nIn my opinion the World Health Organization has caused more anxiety over this threat than the threat itself.  Don't blame the media, blame the WHO. [See the latest post by the WHO which has been verified by NAMRU-3.  In Egypt 4/12 have died -- that is 33% not 56%, or 1% based upon the data from Turkey -- this is the type of HYPE I reject.  However, we do agree, it is true the avian influenza is dangerous, and will be catastrophic if/when it jumps to a human influenza virus.]\n\nWe have learned rule one: Don't sleep with the chickens.\n\nBalanced, great detail at the New Scientist site below.\n\n[Added a reference showing 1918 as not 20 Million, but 50 Million deaths, by John M. Barry, Distinguished Visiting Scholar, Center for Bioenvironmental Research at Tulane and Xavier Universities with several supporting sources quoted.]
638556
It depends on what you look at.\n\nWest Nile Virus (WNV) has killed more than avian flu.  However, the death rate is higher with avian flu (so you are more likely to die of bird flu if you get it, but you are less likely to catch bird flu then WNV).\n\nAlso depends on where you live.  No bird flu in the US, but lots of WNV.
248590
No, not unless your in Egypt or some country where they have the bird flu..if it's in your town you'd no about it, I wouldn't worry but if you want to be sure go to the doctor..that was sweet of you to put the bird out of pain...God bless
461321
Yes...\n\nMy job requires looking at hundreds of avian influenza articles per week. It influences me as a form of torture.\n\nEventually, however, avian influenza will influence all of us. There is the possibility it will mutate into a form that infects upper respiratory tract cells, and thus spreads from person to person. The probability of that happening is undetermined. \n\nEven if that doesn't happen, avian influenza has had a profound affect upon the poultry industry of every country in which it has been found. The U.S. pountry industry (if you are in the U.S.) will be less affected than many other countries, because so many of our chicken's are raised indoors. Nevertheless, the U.S. pountry industry will have to undergo many regional culls. This will actually drive the price of poultry down, as we have seen in other countries, because people will be scared to buy chickens. The economic ripple effect will be felt by everyone, in one form or another.\n\nBut, we will survive. All chickens will be raised indoors, in time.\n\nThe U.S. might experience less regional outbreaks of avian influenza than other countries, because West Nile Virus has devastated local wild bird populations - meaning there is less of a vector for avian influenza to use. However, migratory bird populations, such as ducks, will still spread it to farms where chicken's and other poultry are exposed to the outdoors.
639471
Look!  First thing is first the only people who have gotten the bird flu live with birds lots of birds I would not worry about it. It wastes time and energy and why dwell on it when it is not here yet?
276657
Bird flu cannot go from one person to another, in fact only people to have died of bird flu have worked directly in the bird industry. If the bird flu mutates then it will be transmittable between people.
142970
No, I don't think so.  My understanding is you would have to be living in very close surroundings with poultry that have the virus, or in close contact with live birds.\n\nHowever, I guess we'll be discovering new stuff about bird flu for years to come.
688534
Realistically, you get it from handling bird feces or from intimate contact with an infected bird (ie you handle a dead bird that has been cut open etc.)  Bird flu is an issue for those in the poultry industry....and then only in certain countries that don't follow sanitary procedures.  That's why it is so common in China but virtually unheard of in the US.  We have strict sanitary standards for the production of food in this country.  In China, most food production would be considered not fit for human consumption and illegal to sell, by our laws.
242424
A lot of people ARE worried about the threat of bird flu, because of the media coverage of it.\nIn fact it is more likely that there will NOT be a pandemic. As far as the chance of a bird flu pandemic goes, the most commonly agreed upon figure by experts is 10%. So if you interpreted the documentary you saw correctly, then the documentary is wrong. Of the known cases of humans who have been infected with avian flu, a little over half have died. Most of the infected people have been children, who are probably more susceptible to it. You can only be infected by bird flu through close contact with infected birds, or the excretions of infected birds. Proper cooking of meat and eggs destroys the virus.\n\nA vaccine is under development.\n\nIf you want to find out more information about bird flu, and how it is being dealt with on an international level, I suggest you look at the World Health Organisation's website:\n\nhttp://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/\n\nCheerio.