STUDY ON BIRD FLU

INTRODUCTION
BIRD FLU:
o "Bird flu" is a phrase similar to "swine flu,“
"dog flu”,"horse flu," or "human flu“.
o Also called: Avian flu, Avian influenza,

H5N1.

o It refers to an illness caused by any of many different strains

of influenza viruses that have adapted to a specific host.
o All known viruses that cause influenza in birds belong to the
species influenza A virus.
o  Birds, just like people, get the flu.
 Bird flu viruses infect birds, including
chickens, other poultry and wild birds
such as ducks.
 Most bird flu viruses can only infect other
birds. However, bird flu can pose health risks
to people. The first case of a bird flu virus
infecting a person directly, H5N1, was in Hong
Kong in 1997.
 Genetics of Bird Flu
o Genetic factors in distinguishing between "human flu
viruses" and "avian flu viruses" include:
o HA: (hemagglutinin): Avian influenza HA bind alpha
2-3 sialic acid receptors while human influenza HA
bind alpha 2-6 sialic acid receptors. Swine influenza
viruses have the ability to bind both types of sialic
acid receptors.
o Hemagglutinin is the major antigen of the virus
against which neutralizing antibodies are produced and
influenza virus epidemics are associated with changes
in its antigenic structure.
 Effects of H5N1
o H5N1 has killed millions of poultry in a growing number
of countries throughout Asia, Europe and Africa.
o Health experts are concerned that the co-existence of
human flu viruses and avian flu viruses (especially
H5N1) will provide an opportunity for genetic material
to be exchanged between species-specific viruses,
possibly creating a new virulent influenza strain that is
easily transmissible and lethal to humans.
o Since the first H5N1 outbreak occurred in 1987, there
has been an increasing number of HPAI H5N1 bird-to-
human transmissions leading to clinically severe and
fatal human infections
 
o However, because there is a significant species
barrier that exists between birds and humans,
the virus does not easily cross over to humans,
though some cases of infection are being
researched to discern whether human to human
transmission is occurring
o Exposure routes and other disease transmission
characteristics such as genetic and immunological
factors, that may increase the likelihood of
infection, are not clearly understood.
Structure of h5n1
Ecology of inflenza virus
 Signs and symptoms of bird flu
oCough
oFever
oSore throat
oMuscle aches 
oExtreme Fatigue
oBleeding Throat
oNasal Congestion
oSneezing
oJoint Pain
Some people also experience nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
And in a few cases, a mild eye infection (conjunctivitis) is
the only indication of the disease.
 
 Threatening complications

People with bird flu may develop life-

threatening complications, including:
o Pneumonia
o Collapsed lung
o Respiratory failure
o Kidney dysfunction
o Heart problems
Chemical structure of h5n1
 Risk factors of Bird Flu
 The greatest risk factor for bird flu seems to
be contact with sick birds or with surfaces
contaminated by their feathers, saliva or
droppings.  
 The pattern of human transmission remains
mysterious.
 Young children seem especially vulnerable to
the virus, although some experts note that
children are more likely to have contact with
sick birds or to play on ground contaminated
with droppings
 Transmission of H5N1
 
 The primary method of transmission from bird to
bird is feces. nasal and respiratory secretions
 The primary method of transmission from bird to
human is through handling, being very near to,
or eating infected birds.
 The primary method of transmission from human
to human is through coughs, sneezes, and
touching.
 
 Survival in Bird Flu infection
o Watch for fever, and take medication to control the fever.
o Avoid sweets and carbohydrates as they reduce your
ability to fight infection.
o Drink plenty of liquids, stay hydrated, and eat plenty of
foods rich in iron to bolster the immune response, such
as meats and green leafy vegetables.
o Gargle throughout the day to control systems in the
throat.
o Take medication to control the infection in the sinus
cavities.
o When they fill up, they become infected, drain into the
rest of the respiratory system, making it harder to breath.
 Avoiding Bird Flu infection
 Do not handle birds.
 Do not eat poultry.
 Don't use phones others use, such as a phone
in a co-worker's office.
 Don't let other family members use or touch
things the sick person touches or uses. Wash
your hands often.
 Don't put your hands to your face unless you
wash them first.
 Flush or burn tissues immediately.
 Don't leave them in the trash.
H5N1 virus infecting a person
 H5N1 seems to
provoke an
extreme immune
response which
account for the
very high death
rate from this
strain.
 H5N1(green)
emerging from birds &
infecting a cell.
 A human strain (blue)
infects the same cell.
 The genome
segments(green &
blue) enters the
nucleus(purple) and
are copied.