Disease from Birds to Humans
Most people don’t think of birds being a nuisance but they can not only be a nuisance but expose people to very dangerous diseases. Birds are notorious across the globe for spreading very deadly diseases. One recent example is the avian influenza. This was more commonly referred to as the Bird Flu or H5N1. This is a virus that can be contracted by human contact with birds that have become will with the flu. Once a person has contracted is from the sick bird it can then be transferred from human to human. Symptoms typically start two to eight days of contraction and at first could appear like the common influenza virus. Symptoms include cough, high fever, sore throat, muscle aches, headache, and shortness of breath may occur.
This disease can carry a high mortality rate and so far in humans has had some success with antiviral drugs if the disease is detected at an early stage and the drugs are administered towards the onset of the virus. Studies show that if taken within the first two days, that at the very least it can help with the symptoms but since it being a virus it will just have to run it’s course. At this point there have been no reported cases in humans in the United States but there were 21 states that reported birds that had either contracted or been exposed to the deadly virus.
Diseases from birds to humans are not extremely common but people should be aware about the dangers that birds pose especially if they have taken up residence near people. Common areas in the Charlotte that birds will take up residence are bathroom exhaust vents. chimneys, clothes dryer exhaust vents, attics and underneath covered areas. To prevent any exposure is to block these are so the birds are forced to nest away from people.