Four Reasons Bird Flu is so Dangerous
First, bird flu can cause death. According to studies, there are two main forms of disease that Bird Flu causes. The “low pathogenic” form may go undetected and usually causes only mild symptoms like ruffled feathers and a drop in egg production. The highly pathogenic form spreads more rapidly through flocks of poultry. The second form of Bird Flu affects multiple internal organs and causes death at a rate of 90-100 percent. Death can occur with the second form of the virus within 48 hours.
Second bird flu appears to be mutating. A new study has found that the flu is infecting cats. The study also suggests that cats can spread the flu to other cats. This is disturbing news and raises the possibility the flu may be able to spread to other mammals, including humans. This news has scientist more than concerned.
Before now, it was believed that domestic cats were resistant to flu viruses. Now however there is research that suggests that domestic cats are at risk of disease and may develop into a conduit for the transmission of the illness. There has been, to date, a report of four domestic cats dying from what appears to be the bird flu.
Third, there is a possibility of a pandemic. A pandemic is when there is world-wide spread of an illness through simple contact. Avian influenza virus refers to influenza A viruses found mostly in birds. Studies have shown, however that infections with these viruses can also occur in humans. The risk from avian influenza is usually low because the viruses do not usually infect humans. The problem is that there have been more confirmed cases of human infection from several subtypes of avian influenza infection since the late 1990’s. Many of the cases have been in people who have direct contact with infected poultry such as domesticated chicken, ducks, and turkeys or they have had contact with surfaces contaminated with feces from infected birds. Even though the spread of Bird Flu viruses from one person to another has been reported, it does happen. At this point transmission has not been seen to continue beyond one person however, scientist and the medical community are concerned with the possibility that it could happen within a very short period of time. The concern is that the virus is mutated and if it mutates far enough it could cause a pandemic, making people sick all over the world.
Finally, there is a definite risk that humans can begin catching this illness. At this point the American Medical Association puts the chances of the average human contracting Bird Flu very low, but they also warn that this can change at any point in time.
The American Medical Associations states that everything that can be done is being done to combat the possibilities of this becoming a world-wide issue.
