![]() ![]() But the pace has slowed and there have been about 170 infections and 50 deaths in the last seven years. Globally, nearly 870 human infections and 457 deaths have been reported to the World Health Organization in 20 countries. Some people don't have noticeable symptoms, but some develop severe. Symptoms are the similar to that of other flus, including cough, body aches and fever. To contain the outbreak, the Hong Kong government closed live poultry markets, killed all the birds in the markets, and stopped bringing in chickens from southern China. The Hong Kong outbreak in 1997 was the first time this bird flu was blamed for severe human illness. ![]() Since the beginning of last year, tens of millions of chickens have died of the virus or been killed to stop outbreaks from spreading, one of the reasons cited for soaring egg prices. In the U.S., it has recently been detected in wild birds in every state, as well as in commercial poultry operations or backyard flocks in 47 states. Like other viruses, it has evolved over time, spawning newer versions of itself.īy 2007, the virus was found in more than 60 countries. The bird flu virus drawing attention today - Type A H5N1 - was first identified in 1959, by investigators looking into a flu outbreak in chickens in Scotland. And then there are avian viruses that spread naturally in wild aquatic birds like ducks and geese, and then to chickens and other domesticated poultry. For example, there are flus that occur in dogs, plus pig - or swine - flu viruses. Some flu viruses mainly affect people, but some others chiefly occur in animals. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ī look at the bird flu virus and why it is getting renewed attention: Still, the risk to the general public now is low, says Dr. Scientist say another kind of bird flu was likely behind the devastating 1918-1919 flu pandemic, and avian viruses played roles in other flu pandemics in 1957, 1968, and 2009. As bird flu hits more and varied animals, like at the mink farm, the fear is that the virus could evolve to spread more easily between people, and potentially trigger a pandemic. ![]()
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