H5N1 Avian virus " Bird Flu "

What is it?

 

Do I Have the Bird Flu?

Do I Have the Bird Flu? Photo by Chelsea.
It can only go from a bird to a human. Photo by Chelsea.
The world is and should be preparing for a pandemic of the bird flu. © Photographer: JinYoung Lee | Agency: Dreamstime.com
Stay on top of your personal hygiene. Photo by Chelsea.
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  In the flu season this year, it may be a little more worrisome if you do come down with the flu.  So many people are hearing stories on the nightly news claiming that the bird flu is likely to spread and there are going to be millions of people that will perish from it should it actually happen. 

  The problem with this is, though, that the bird flu is as of yet not able to move from one person to another person.  It can only go from a bird to a human.  Unless you work with birds heavily, you probably have no way of contracting the bird flu as of yet.

  That does not mean that it will not change into something that can be transmitted from person to person.  Many scientists believe that this form of the flu will be making this mutation at some point.  It is unlikely that we will know when it will happen or when it is happening. 

  Many governments are working hard at keeping it from happening at all, but there is no guarantee that this will happen.  The world is and should be preparing for a pandemic of the bird flu.

  So, what about you?  Should you be worried about getting the bird flu?  As of this writing, there is little worry for those that live in North American, South American or in Australia.  The bird flu has not made the migration over oceans as of yet. 

  It has been found in Asia and in some parts of northern Africa.  But, because the bird flu does effect birds that migrate, it can possibly spread throughout the world.  If the bird flu does mutate into something that can spread from human to human, there is be no location that is safe.  If a person comes into contact with the bird flu then gets on a plane, the world is his destination.

  There is likely to be many more cases of the bird flu being transmitted from a sick bird to a person.  Although government agencies are working hard to limit this and to limit the spread of the bird flu into other countries and other areas, it is likely that it will continue to do so at least sparingly. 

  Should this happen, there will be many people that are likely to be exposed and to be worried.  The best way to make sure that it doesn’t happen to you is to stay on top of your personal hygiene and to pay attention to what is happening around the world with the bird flu.

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