Bird Flu: Causes, Risks, and Outbreak Information

Causes of bird flu stem from the infected saliva, feathers, blood or droppings of a bird that carries the avian virus H5H1. The deadly strain of influenza is not passed to humans unless the human has been exposed to the droppings, blood or saliva.

Outbreaks

• Outbreaks occur when chickens, turkeys and ducks become infected with bird flu. The deadly strain easily changes its genetic structure when it infects other animals such as pigs.

Live Marketplace

• The selling of fowl and eggs in unsanitary conditions at live marketplaces can spread the virus into an immensely populated area within a short time.

Consumption

• Touching the fowl, cleaning it and eating the infected eggs can infect the human populace of an entire city.

Picnic Tables

• In areas with infected birds, the droppings that dirty picnic tables at parks or in back yards can spread the avian virus to humans quickly.

Human to Human Contact

• According to the University of Michigan Health System, it is very rare for the avian virus to spread from human to human.