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Topics with B + Bird Flu Bird Flu
Alternate names: Avian flu, Avian influenza, H5N1
Birds, just like people, get the flu. Bird flu viruses
infect birds, including chickens, other
poultry and wild birds such as ducks.
Most bird flu viruses can only infect other birds. However,
bird flu can pose health risks to people. The first
case of a bird flu virus infecting a person directly,
H5N1, was in Hong Kong in 1997. Since then, the bird
flu virus has spread to birds in countries in Asia,
Africa and Europe.
Human infection is still very rare, but the virus that causes the infection in birds might change, or mutate, to more easily infect humans. This could lead to a pandemic, or a worldwide outbreak of the illness.
During an outbreak of bird flu, people who have contact
with infected birds can become sick. It may also be
possible to catch bird flu by eating poultry
that is not well cooked or through contact with a person
who has it. Bird flu can make people very sick or even
cause death. There is currently no vaccine.
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