Bird Flu Symptoms, Causes and Risk Factors.
                     Bird Flu: Symptoms, 
Causes and Risk 
Factors
What is Bird Flu?
• Bird Flu is also popularly known as 
Avian Influenza. It’s a viral infection 
which will not only infect birds but 
also this virus can infect humans 
and other animals. 
Source: www.medicoverhospitals.in
Deadly virus
• Most of the viruses are restricted to 
birds. H5N1 is said to be a deadly 
virus for birds, and this can easily 
affect humans and animals who 
meet a carrier.
Source: www.medicoverhospitals.in
Causes of Bird Flu
• H5N1 occurs naturally in wild 
waterfowl, but this can spread very 
easily to domestic poultry. 
• This disease is directly transmitted 
to humans through contact with 
infected bird feces, nasal 
secretions, and secretions from 
mouth or eyes.
Source: www.medicoverhospitals.in
What are the symptoms 
of bird flu?
• Cough
• Diarrhea
• Respiratory Difficulties
• Fever (over 100.4°F or 38°C)
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Malaise
• Runny Nose
• Sore Throat
Source: www.medicoverhospitals.in
Risk factors
• H5N1 can survive for extended 
periods of time. Birds infected with 
H5N1 continue to release the virus 
in feces and saliva for as long as 10 
days. Touching contaminated 
surfaces can spread the infection.
Source: www.medicoverhospitals.in
Complications
• People with bird flu may develop 
life-threatening complications, 
including:
• Pneumonia
• Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
• Respiratory failure
• Kidney dysfunction
• Heart problems
Source: www.mayoclinic.org/
Prevention
• The Food and Drug Administration 
has approved one vaccine to 
prevent infection with one strain of 
H5N1 bird flu virus. 
Source: www.mayoclinic.org/
Recommendations for 
travelers
• Avoid domesticated birds. If possible, 
avoid rural areas, small farms and 
open-air markets.
• Wash your hands. This is one of the 
simplest and best ways to prevent 
infections of all kinds. Use an alcohol-
based hand sanitizer containing at 
least 60 percent alcohol when you 
travel.
Source: www.mayoclinic.org/
Bird Flu 2021 Outbreak
• People haven’t got over Covid-19 
and its effect and there’s another 
outbreak in the country which is 
popularly known as Bird Flu or Avian 
Influenza.
Source: www.medicoverhospitals.in
Does the virus easily 
spread to humans?
• No, bird flu is not easily spread to 
humans. People who come in very 
close contact with the infected 
birds, alive or dead can get bird flu. 
• According to WHO bird flu is not 
transmitted from person to person. 
Source: www.medicoverhospitals.in