We've compiled all the information you need to understand what bird flu is, how to cure it, and how to avoid getting it.
Currently, there are a number of issues facing health care. Concern is being raised in the São Paulo region due to an outbreak of the H5N1 virus, which causes bird flu, in addition to the rise in hospitalisations for respiratory diseases, which prompted hospitals to activate backup plans and expand their bed capacity.
On January 3, the epidemic was discovered at an aviary in São João das Lampas, in the municipality of Sintra. Out of the 55,427 chickens in the flock, 279 of them perished. The risk of exposure to the virus, which is mainly linked to birds but may also infect other animals and even humans, prompted the World Organisation for Animal Health to issue a notice in response to this instance.
In this article, we examine the effects of bird flu, how it spreads, and the precautions that should be taken to stop its spread in a setting where health systems are already under strain.
Bird flu: what is it?
Both domestic and wild birds are susceptible to the viral sickness known as bird flu. The disease has a significant fatality rate among affected birds and is highly contagious. Nonetheless, it is helpful to understand that the General Directorate of Food and Veterinary (DGAV) has classified bird flu virus infections into two categories based on their severity:
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAG): up to 100% of infected birds may die within 48 hours of infection, and it spreads swiftly. This is what transpired with Sintra's 55,000 poultry;
Low pathogenic bird flu (GABP): this type of influenza is characterised by less severe symptoms and may even be undetectable.
Warning indications include the rapid death of multiple healthy birds (within 24 hours) or the repeated mortality of over 5% of birds in a group over a period of days, according to DGAV. It's also critical to be aware of additional symptoms, such as watery, closed eyes and/or a bloated head in birds. To stop the disease from spreading, animal cases must be promptly identified and monitored.
What effects does bird flu have on people?
Only very close contact with sick birds—dead or alive—or their faeces can result in the transmission from birds to people. Certain forms of bird flu can infect people and other animals, according to the General Directorate of Food and Veterinary Medicine (DGAV). But doing so necessitates extremely intimate contact between humans and diseased birds.
Humans can contract the disease mostly through direct touch with an infected bird's feathers, dung, or urine; inhaling particles generated by the ill bird's secretions;
Eating inadequately cooked meat from diseased birds;
Handling contaminated raw meat or butchered poultry without protection.
As a result, it is crucial to follow a set of hygienic procedures and stay away from sick wild or poultry birds.
What are the symptoms of bird flu?
After infection, the incubation period typically lasts two to four days, while it occasionally lasts up to eight days. The most typical early symptoms include:
A high fever, typically higher than 38ºC;
Nasal passage inflammation, which can result in congestion or a runny nose;
Pneumonia, which causes a persistent cough, chest pain, and trouble breathing;
Conjunctivitis, which causes red, irritated, and occasionally wet eyes; and
Pharyngitis, which causes pain or discomfort in the throat and frequently accompanies swallowing difficulties.
Other symptoms may also be prevalent, including vomiting, diarrhoea, gastrointestinal issues, nosebleeds, stomach discomfort, and inflammation of the brain, which can result in severe headaches, disorientation, or seizures. Serious side effects include progressive respiratory failure could occur, necessitating artificial ventilation.
As was the case during the COVID-19 epidemic, keep in mind that the first diagnosis may be complicated. This is due to the fact that the early symptoms are easily mistaken for those of other conditions, like encephalitis, acute gastroenteritis, or pneumonia.
How to prevent and cure bird flu in Portugal
Seek prompt medical assistance if bird flu symptoms develop, particularly after coming into touch with infected birds.
Bird flu cannot be prevented by the seasonal flu vaccine, but it can be prevented by practicing excellent hygiene, which includes frequent hand washing and avoiding contact with suspicious birds. In order to keep patients hydrated during treatment, intravenous saline is often used in so-called severe instances. Actually, your odds of lessening the infection's severity and treating it increase with the speed at which you begin therapy.
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