Contagiousness

Bird flu is one the illnesses caused by influenza A type of virus and which caused a pandemic in 2003 and the subsequent years. specialists have ever thought that the virus strain that cause avian flu, namely the H5N1 can be easily transmitted through the contact with bodily fluids of infected birds but also through indirect contact with a contaminated surface. On this page one may read more about the contagiousness of the condition and what people should do to avoid contracting the virus.

As it has been pointed out by various health organizations and specialists, the H5N1 strain can be easily transmitted from a bird to another, making the global spread of the virus easier through the contamination of migratory birds. The virus may mutate and reassert meaning that it can transform into a variety of viruses infecting different species of animals, including those that had never been known to carry the virus. some of these variants can infect humans but it is important to remember that not all of them can. Specialists discovered that the H5N1 strain binds to a type of galactose receptors that can be found in the avian respiratory tract which means anywhere between the nose to the lungs. These receptors are known to be absent in humans although they may be found in structures located deep in the lungs, the alveoli. This makes it difficult to expel the virus through coughing and sneezing, which is the usual route for transmitting a viral disease.

The virus is mainly spread by birds, such as chickens, pigeons, wild ducks, geese and swans (which are known as carriers). The virus is thus spread through the bodily fluids of the birds but also through poultry products. Humans typically contract the virus from chickens which were infected by poultry or by waterfowl.