How Do Humans Become Infected With Bird Flu
The infection process with bird flu is not particularly
complicated. As with other strains of influenza, the virus
itself is passed from host to host, although bird flu is not
transmitted from human contact like other strains of the flu.
However, people should still be knowledgeable of how bird flu is
contracted to avoid it as much as possible.
Currently, the primary way humans become infected with the
disease is through contact with infected animals or their feces.
The virus is transmitted through bodily excretions, such as
saliva, nasal secretions, and feces or through contact with
contaminated surfaces. In many of the regions where outbreaks
have occurred, people, poultry and pigs live in very close
contact, therefore, increasing the likelihood of transmitting
the disease.
Especially in agricultural arenas, virus transmission occurs
more frequently to humans. The reason for this is the necessity
of handling fowl for feeding, medical care, and slaughter.
People will often handle birds and not properly sanitize their
hands and clothing afterward. Also, because fowl are usually
kept in small areas for farming purposes, the disease spreads
easily and feces accumulates quickly, also increasing human
contact with potentially dangerous excretions. The virus lives
on contaminated surfaces for several days, which also increases
infection probability.
Another way of infection is by ingesting infected poultry that
was not cooked properly. It is always suggested to fully cook
any meat you are preparing for yourself or your family to
eliminate bacteria and harmful viruses. When cooking poultry,
you should cook the meat to a temperature of 165 degrees
Fahrenheit or 74 degrees Celsius to ensure its safety.
Especially in the cases of infection in children, ingesting
contaminated food is believed to be the primary cause because
children handling fowl is considerably less common in the areas
where outbreaks have occurred. This is of particular concern as
children have a higher mortality rate than adults. As with most
infectious diseases, it has more of a negative effect of the
weak: the very young and very old.
With time, people fear the virus will mutate to a form
transmittable from human to human. If this occurs, infection
will occur as with the regular flu strain. The virus will spread
through saliva and mucus contact through sneezing, coughing, or
breathing in close vicinity of others. With mutation, the virus
will spread with much more ease through human populations,
possibly causes massive illness and death.