| Some Facts About The 'Bird Flu' |
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| Name and type: |
Previously found only in birds, the virus is a strain of influenza A. |
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| Symptoms: |
Coughing, fever, muscle aches. |
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| How it can attack: |
Causes respiratory distress, which can lead to multiple organ failure. |
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| Most at risk: |
Young children, the elderly, or people whose immune systems have been weakened by fatigue or other diseases. |
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| Transmission: |
Directly from birds to humans. There is no evidence
of airborne transmission through sneezing or coughing, which often spread human flu viruses. |
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| Incubation time: |
One to four days, similar to human flu viruses. |
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Vaccination: |
None available. |
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Treatment: |
The drug amantadine is effective but only if used within 48 hours of the onset of infection. |
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Best Defense: |
High natural resistance. |
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Methods of
destroying virus: |
Cooking in temperatures of more than 72 degrees Celsius (162 degrees Fahrenheit). |
