Avian flu, also known as bird flu, is caused by the avian influenza virus, which occurs naturally in birds. Wild birds carry the virus but it is rare if the bird itself ever gets sick with it. The bird is the carrier, and the virus is extremely contagious. Domestic birds, like chickens, ducks, and turkeys, pick up the virus. Unlike wild birds, domestic birds can become very ill from the virus and usually die if infected.

Although avian flu does not usually infect humans, there have been a few cases of human contraction since 1997.

How the Virus Spreads

When a bird is infected, the virus is spread through their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Domestic birds are infected when they come in contact with the excretions or surfaces contaminated with excretions. In the cases of humans contracting the virus, it is believed to happen when a human handles infected poultry.

The risks to humans are fairly low, as this is mostly a bird to bird virus. The people who are most at risk of avian flu are those who work in a poultry business and regularly handle live birds. There is a slight risk of getting virus when cooking an infected bird.

Asian Bird Flu

A second strain of the avian flu virus has been discovered in eight Asian countries: Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. This strain was first found in 2003. It was thought to be under control by spring 2004, but a few months later, it resurfaced in a more severe form.

The spread of Asian bird flu to humans is as rare as the original strain, but it does happen. It has not been spread from person to person. However, in humans, Asian bird flu is deadly. Of the humans who have been infected with the virus, fifty percent have died from it.

When it is found in humans, Asian bird flu is difficult to treat. Antiviral medications that are successful in treating influenzas are useless against the Asian bird flu virus. Research is still being done to search for a possible treatment.

So far, the Asian bird flu has not been diagnosed in the United States.