DNA Explainer: What is bird flu? Know all about H5N1 Avian influenza - how it spreads and who is at risk

India reported its first case of human death due to H5N1 Avian influenza or bird flu after a child succumbed to the disease. The 11-year-old who died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi on July 21 was infected with Avian influenza, the first human case of bird flu in the country, according to the Health Ministry.

Avian influenza is a disease that occurs mainly in birds like chickens and turkeys. Though the H5N1 virus does not infect humans easily, infection in humans can cause severe disease and has a high mortality rate, according to the World Health Organisation.

The first report of human H5N1 infection was in 1997 and currently, over 700 human cases of Asian Highly Pathogenic Asian Avian Influenza A (HPAI) H5N1 virus have been reported to the World Health Organisation from 16 countries. Children and adults below 40 were seen to be the most affected and mortality was high in 10-19 years olds.

What is Avian influenza?

Avian influenza is a strain of the influenza virus that primarily infects birds, but can also infect humans.

This type of flu is most often contracted by contact with sick birds. It can also be passed from person to person.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), human cases of H5N1 are rare but if infected, the mortality rate is about 60%.

H5N1 stands for Highly Pathogenic Asian Avian Influenza (H5N1) Virus. The H5N1 virus can cause severe flu with a high mortality rate.

All cases of H5N1 infection in people have been associated with close contact with infected live or dead birds, or H5N1-contaminated environments.

The experts believe that the virus does not infect humans easily, and spreads from person to person appears to be unusual.

Infected birds shed the avian influenza virus through their saliva, mucous, and feces.

Human infections with bird flu viruses can happen when enough virus gets into a person's eyes, nose or mouth, or is inhaled.

Symptoms of Avian influenza

According to US CDC, the reported signs and symptoms of avian influenza A virus infections in humans have ranged from mild to severe influenza-like illness.

Fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting.

Severe respiratory illness (e.g., shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress, viral pneumonia, respiratory failure)

Neurologic changes (altered mental status, seizures).

Is it safe to eat eggs, chicken during bird flu outbreak?

According to the World Health Organisation, poultry and poultry products can be prepared and consumed as usual, with no fear of acquiring infection with the avian flu virus.

One should continue to follow good hygienic and cooking practices. The virus is destroyed at a temperature of 70 degrees C for 30 minutes.

After handling poultry and eggs, one should clean hands and other exposed parts, it said.