Bird flu also afflicts humans, watch out!

| credits: goalfinder.com

In our bid to save money on meat or make a little extra money apart from our regular salary, many of us raise domestic birds such as fowls or ducks in our backyard farms. While this is commendable, experts are sounding dire warnings about the need to be careful with the way we interact with or handle these birds.

These past weeks, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has warned that Nigeria is experiencing Avian Influenza, otherwise known as the bird flu. So far, this flu has no vaccine that could be deployed in its treatment, making the World Health Organisation to express concerns about it.

Experts say that generally, most avian influenza viruses do not infect humans; however some strains, such as the A(H5N1) and A(H7N9), have caused serious infections in people. The H5N1 strain is so violent in humans such that the WHO says the mortality rate associated with it is high, at 60 per cent of recorded cases.

Both the agric minister, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina; and the Lagos State Government say about 2,000 infected birds have already been identified and killed in a poultry farm in Badore area of Lagos State. Kano State also has its own experience in his regard.

This being the case, you need to know what bird flu is all about and how to protect your family.

Be warned!

Sad to say, the human body has no immunity against the bird flu, hence the need to avoid it in all possible ways.

Epidemiologist, Mr. Araoye Obilade, warns, “There is no natural immunity from bird flu in humans. Your body cannot develop antibodies, and, typically, hospitalisation is required if infected. Because of this, anyone is at risk for avian or bird flu, hence the concern about possible flu pandemic.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperative, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal, notes that the majority of human cases of A(H5N1) and A(H7N9) infection have been associated with direct or indirect contact with infected live or dead poultry.

However, experts say there is no evidence that the disease can be spread to people through properly cooked food.

Identifying a sick bird

In order to adequately protect yourself, you need to recognise the symptoms of bird flu among your birds. A veterinary doctor, Femi Oboye, says such symptoms include ruffled feathers, whereby the feathers are not as neatly arranged as they ought to be.

Other symptoms include production of soft-shelled eggs, depression and droopiness, as well as sudden drop in egg production

Again, Oboye says, a sick bird will experience loss of appetite, while the cocks may develop purplish-blue colouring wattles and comb.

The birds may also experience swelling of the head, eyelids, comb, wattles, and hocks; while they may pass green diarrhoea, or display blood-tinged discharge from the nostrils.

Oboye adds that such birds may experience lack of coordination, including the loss of ability to walk and stand.

Be advised that when your chicken displays any or all of these symptoms, it is not advisable to kill it for food as some people are wont to do! Handling its raw meat alone can expose you to the deadly HN51 strain of the vain flu. So, beware!

Symptoms of avian flu in humans

Obilade says unlike the regular cold, flu symptoms usually come on suddenly. “Another key sign is a fever, which may not happen with a cold,” he says.

Since an individual may be unaware that he has contracted the flu, Obilade advises that it is necessary to watch out for symptoms such as severe aches in the joints and muscles, pain and tiredness around the eyes, weakness or fatigue, warm, flushed skin and red, watery eyes, headache, dry cough, sore throat and runny nose, trouble breathing or shortness of breath, pain or pressure in the chest or belly, sudden dizziness, confusion, diarrhea and severe vomiting.

See the doctor!

The WHO warns that if left untreated, avian flu can cause rapid deterioration and serious complications such as viral pneumonia or inflammation of the lung tissue, acute respiratory distress syndrome, whereby the lungs cannot provide adequate amounts of oxygen to meet the body’s needs; and multiple organ failure.

Preventive measures

Even though there is currently no vaccine for this deadly infection, physicians say you can do much to safeguard yourself and your loved ones from becoming a victim.

Obilade warns that it is possible to catch bird flu by eating chicken meat or eggs that are not well cooked; and one can also become infected through contact with a person who has the flu.

As in other viral infections, hand hygiene is of the essence, physicians say.

General Practitioner, Dr. Ismail Oluwadare, counsels people to wash their hands regularly, particularly after going to the toilet and before handling food.

“As a precaution, always ensure good hygiene standards when preparing and cooking meat. We advise people to use different utensils for cooked and raw meat, and to wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water before and after handling raw meat,” Oluwadare counsels.

As for chicken owners, the physician advises against touching infected birds that are dead or alive. “When your chicken is infected, you will know. If any is dead, wear protective gloves before picking it up; and when feeding them, reduce the physical contact as much as possible,” he says.

Even after feeding your chickens, Oluwadare says, ensure that you wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. He also says you should keep away from bird droppings (poops) and to wash hands thoroughly if you accidentally touch it.

Travel

Epidemiologists also warn that if you happen to find yourself in countries such as Egypt and China where the bird flu has recently claimed lives, you must avoid contact with live animals.

In this wise, you may have to avoid buying decorative feather, because you don’t know whether the bird that produced it had been ill.