Key Points
Also known as avian influenza, bird flu is a type A influenza virus that spreads between wild and domesticated birds and is lethal to them..
The infection can also be passed from birds to humans and usually causes mild illness such as cough, sore throat, runny nose, muscle ache and conjunctivitis..
Human to human transmission is very rare and has only spread to a few people but it is possible that the bird flu virus may change and gain the ability to disseminate easily between people and therefore, close monitoring is required," says Dr. Santosh Kumar Agrawal, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Marengo Asia Hospital Faridabad...
"Symptoms of bird flu virus infections in humans may range from no symptoms or mild illness such as redness of eyes (conjunctivitis) or mild flu-like upper respiratory symptoms to severe (like pneumonia)..
"The symptoms of bird flu in humans are very similar to other influenza viruses and include high temperature, aching muscles, runny nose, headache, cough, and shortness of breath..
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