Coronavirus And Bird Flu: Birds In China Infected With Another Outbreak

Coronavirus is creating a worldwide scare. Travel bans have been imposed by government agencies of different countries. Masks are running out, and everyone is anxious about how contagious the virus is.

Chinese scientists plus other medical experts from other countries are working 24/7 to find a way to combat the virus. However, as of this date, no cure has been released. There is no news yet of a vaccine that could put a stop to the virus. While this is ongoing, another problem is brewing, and again, the location is in China.

According to Express’ report, China is again dealing with yet another outbreak. This time, it’s the H5N1 bird flu. As per the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Chine, the virus has killed almost 18,000 chickens.

The ministry said that the disease had killed about 4,500 birds in Shaoyang City, Hunan province. More than half of a flock on the farm where it happened was killed. The worse part is that the disease was ascribed as a “highly pathogenic subtype.” This virus can spread to humans. An outbreak of the virus occurs in smaller concentrations, and with fewer people getting infected.

Bird flu has already caused deaths around the world. It has 25 different subtypes. Out of these subtypes, those that are labeled H5, H7, and H10 took human lives.

Coronavirus vs. Bird Flu

While both can infect humans, there are different ways of how humans get infected by these viruses. With coronavirus, the virus is airborne. Humans can easily be infected. AS with bird flu, the virus is not airborne. Close contact is necessary to be infected by the virus.

For instance, if you touch the droppings of an infected bird, or if you kill or prepare these birds, then you are at a higher risk of getting infected by the bird flu virus. If you don’t come in close contact with the birds, the risk is lower.

As per the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, since 2013, there were 1,568 cases of bird flu all over the world. Out of these cases, 616 people were killed. No airborne bird flu strains have been detected so far.

Bird flu symptoms, which appear quickly, like other flu strains, include fever, feeling hot, cough, headache, and also aching muscles. Health experts recommend seeing a doctor the moment you visited a country where a bird flu outbreak exists and falling ill thereafter.