Transmission

The bird flu was one of the pandemics that affected millions of birds and other animals ever since 2003 and hundreds of humans, causing the death of some of them. At the time of the outbreaks individuals were advised to get themselves vaccinated against the virus and farmers were obliged to vaccinate their birds in order to keep the virus under control. The measures seem to have cause significant results since the number of outbreaks is estimated to fall from 65 in 2006 to 11 in 2008. But a complete understanding on the potential of the virus might be gained through the ways in which this virus could be transmitted.

Specialists believe that the H5N1 virus is transmitted from birds to birds and other animals through their saliva, nasal secretions, and blood. The illness is transmitted to other animals through direct contact with the infected bodily fluids or through the contact with surfaces that had been contaminated. It is also believed that the virus remains contagious for about a month at 0 degree Celsius (32 F) or 6 days at 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 F). This means that at the body temperature the virus is most likely to last a week and at ordinary temperature the chances for contamination last for weeks. At the same time, in arctic temperatures, the virus has been shown to preserve itself, without degrading at all. The pandemic was spread through the migratory birds.

Ever since 2004, the pathogenic effect of H5N1 was recognized to be more dangerous than people thought at the time because the virus was directly spread through waterfowl to chickens, crows and other birds such as pigeons and it was also noted that it increased its transmission to mammals. The discoveries of the researchers even since 1997 led to an increased awareness towards illegal bird trade and bird health when it comes to those that are being sold for consumption. Nevertheless, in 2007, researchers discovered that the virus may be transmitted from a pregnant mother to her child through the placenta.