Caused by the type A influenza virus, in particular by the H5, H7 and H9 subtypes, avian influenza or avian influenza is a zoonosis that can cause high mortality in farmed birds. It can be transmitted to humans and cause respiratory complications leading to death. The treatment is based on antivirals blocking the enzymatic activity of the virus.
You will also be interested
[EN VIDÉO] Swine flu: should we be afraid of the new H1N1-like strain? A new flu strain similar to the H1N1 pandemic virus has just been identified by Chinese researchers. What do we know about him now?
Some subtypes of flu virus AT (H5N1 and H7N9) can infect humans and a few thousand cases have been recorded worldwide since theepidemic 1997 in Hong Kong (first documented cases).
Transmission occurs directly through contact with poultry but, due to the high variability of the genome and its ability to create a new subtype (by reassortment genetic), human-to-human transmission remains possible, fueling the threat of pandemic.
Bird flu symptoms in humans
They can be limited to symptoms of one flu common if the virus stays in thetree bronchial.
The necrosis of theepithelium respiratory cilia induced by the virus results in a coughhypersecretion of mucus and an fever between 39 and 40°C. Headache, asthenia, pains joints and muscles are manifestations of the inflammatory response to infection. But the disease can present an abrupt clinical course, with high levels of cytokines pro-inflammatory and lead to many complications such as pneumoniaa acute respiratory distress syndromeseptic shock, or even death.
Digestive symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) and conjunctivitis have been reported in some patients.
bird flu treatment
Treatment is primarily symptomatic (anti-inflammatory and analgesic). One vaccine specific is not developed to date, however, there are antivirals such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) and zanamivir (Relenza®) capable of inhibiting the activity of neuraminidase, enzyme surface area required for entry into the cell, release and progression of the virus. Used in prophylaxis or in curativethey are currently the only ones able to reduce the gravity and the duration symptoms provided it is administered within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. The antibiotics are not effective on the virus and will be prescribed in a situation of comorbidity with bacterial agents that may be encountered in the most critical cases.
Interested in what you just read?
Subscribe to the newsletter Health question of the week : our answer to a question you ask yourself (more or less secretly). All our newsletters