The Statistics about the Current Strain of the Bird Flu

Avian or Bird Flu is a type of influenza virus. Influenza viruses can infect several animal species, including birds, pigs, horses, seals and whales. Influenza viruses that infect birds are called avian influenza viruses. Wild birds are considered the natural hosts for influenza virus. Avian influenza viruses do not usually directly infect humans.

Wild birds are a natural reservoir for these viruses and may carry them without becoming ill due to natural resistance. Infected birds shed influenza virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Susceptible birds become infected when they have contact with contaminated secretions or excretions or with surfaces that are contaminated with secretions or excretions from infected birds.

Wild waterfowl can then be responsible for the primary introduction of the infection into domestic poultry. In farms where poultry is raised young turkeys and laying hens are usually the most affected species. They in turn can pass it to humans.

People catch bird flu by contact with infected birds or bird droppings. People don't catch the virus from eating fully cooked chicken or eggs. There have been a few cases where one infected person caught the bird flu virus from another person - but only after close personal contact.

Symptoms of avian influenza in humans have ranged from typical human influenza-like symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches, to eye infections, pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases (such as acute respiratory distress), and other severe and life-threatening complications. The symptoms of avian influenza may depend on which virus caused the infection.

Over the past two years the lethal H5N1 strain of bird flu has spread from South East Asia to Europe, the Middle East and West Africa, sparking fears of a global pandemic. The bird flu is spreading at an alarming pace.

In May of 1997, the first known human cases of the bird flu appear in Hong Kong. Six out of 18 people die. In 2003, there are 4 human deaths: 3 in Vietnam and 1 in China. In 2004, there are 32 human deaths: 12 in Thailand and 20 in Vietnam.

In 2005, there are 42 human deaths: 19 in Vietnam, 12 in Indonesia, 5 in China, 4 in Cambodia and 2 in Thailand.

In 2006 (through October 3 only) there have been 70 human deaths: 40 in Indonesia, 8 in China, 6 in Egypt, 5 in Azerbaijan, 4 in Turkey, 3 in Thailand, 2 in Cambodia and 2 in Iraq.

The fatality rate of officially reported bird flu in humans is 59 percent through October of 2006.

The latest numbers, as of October 11, 2006, report that there have been a total of 253 cases of reported Bird flu worldwide. According to the World Health Organization 148 people have died.

As of October 2006 deaths from this virus have been limited to the countries of Azerbaijan, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Turkey, China, Iraq and Cambodia.

Bird flu pops up in the U.S. occasionally. The last time an extreme strain appeared was in February 2004, near Houston, Texas. This involved a different virus strain than the one circulating in Asia. By April 2004, the outbreak had been eradicated. No human infections were detected.

When looking at the big picture the Bird flu is still considered to be very rare and the resulting deaths have been small. In addition, all of the people who have died from the infection have had direct contact with the infected birds. Furthermore, there have been very few cases where the virus has been passed from human to human.

The Statistics about the Current Strain of the Bird Flu

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