How to Diagnose Bird Flu

In its initial stages, the bird flu, or avian influenza, manifests symptoms very similar to the common flu. However, serious and potentially life-threatening complications can develop, particularly in young or elderly patients or people who have weakened immune systems. Prompt treatment provides the best prognosis. Read on to learn how to diagnose bird flu.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Physician

1. Know the symptoms. Some strains of the bird flu simply cause an eye infection, while more serious cases result in fever, sore throat, cough, muscle soreness and weakness. Pneumonia and acute breathing problems accompany severe cases, which can be fatal.
2. Understand that the tests your doctor will use to diagnose bird flu cannot differentiate the avian influenza virus from other influenza A viruses (the family of viruses that cause the flu). To confirm a bird flu diagnosis, state laboratories or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will have to perform further testing.
3. Realize that your risk of the bird flu increases greatly if you travel to an area of the world where its outbreak is the most pronounced, particularly Southeast Asia. Tell your doctor if you have recently visited a region where it occurs more commonly, particularly if you can recall having come into contact with birds, fowl or poultry products.
4. Test for the bird flu virus by having your doctor perform a general screening for influenza viruses based on your symptoms. Physicians have reliable, fast tests that can diagnose the presence of influenza.
5. Have your doctor administer anti-viral drug treatments if the avian influenza is suspected. Keep in mind, though, that these drugs are usually only effective if given within approximately 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. Thus, it is essential that you seek prompt treatment if you have been in contact with birds or poultry or if you have traveled to a part of the world where the virus is common and you subsequently develop symptoms.
6. Learn more about the virus, the incubation period, symptoms and how to protect yourself by visiting the avian influenza pages on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. See the Resources section below for a link. As viruses, by definition, are very hard to treat effectively, prevention remains the best cure.

Tips & Warnings

• Human-to-human transmissions of the avian influenza virus remain very rare. Protect yourself by employing diligent hand-washing techniques and taking extra care on poultry farms, in open-air markets where poultry is sold and in areas where bird excrement may be present.