UNDERSTANDING BIRD FLU
There has been a seasonal incidence of BIRD or AVIAN FLU noticed in different parts of the country due to deaths of large number of different species of birds. A huge number of birds have to be culled to prevent it spread. This recording is done with the objective of spreading awareness amongst the public that this Viral Infection essentially spreads through excreta of migratory birds carrying H5N8 Virus to various other birds, naming it ‘Birds to Birds’ transmission. It can seriously affect the poultry birds causing epidemic deaths amongst them in huge numbers. It’s safe to not consume eggs and chicken flesh during this period. However, this virus is very sensitive to heat and doesn’t spread to human population if the eggs and chicken flesh are well cooked. The H5N8 Flu usually doesn’t spread to humans. However, its H5N1 mutant has been found to infect humans resulting in 861 infections and 455 deaths due to it all over the world in six years period from years 2013 to 2019. We do have a Vaccine available to prevent transmission of H5N1, H5N2 and H5N8 strains of the virus to prevent its transmission from birds to its human handlers.