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11-Year-Old Girl Dies of Bird Flu, WHO Warns of Symptoms Of Avian Influenza In Human

Cambodian health authorities said that she was diagnosed with the H5N1 virus on Wednesday. Later she had fallen ill a week earlier with a high fever, cough, and sore throat.

Girl Dies Of Bird Flu In Cambodia

A 11-year-old girl died of bird flu in Cambodia earlier this week. Taking cognizance of the worsening situation, the World Health Organisation has described the situation as "worrying", and has also asked nations to take proper precautions as cases of avian flu in increasing on a daily basis. Talking about the symptoms of bird flu as noted in the girl, the authorities said that she was diagnosed with the H5N1 virus on Wednesday. Later she had fallen ill a week earlier with a high fever, cough, and sore throat. The girl's father has also tested positive for the H5N1 virus. As per Cambodian authorities, this is the first known human infection of the H5N1 strain in Cambodia since 2014.

What Is Bird Flu?

Avian influenza or bird flu is a severe health condition that is primarily caused by an infection triggered by avian (bird) influenza (flu) Type A viruses. According to the experts, these viruses naturally spread among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species. To date, it was rare that human cases of the virus were reported by any nation. However, right now the situation has changed, and even humans are catching the H5N1 virus. Scroll down to know more. Also Read - Just Like COVID, Bird Flu Virus Is Also Mutating: Experts Warn of High Potential For Humans Outbreak

What Are The Symptoms Of Bird Flu?

As it is clear now that bird flu is not limited to causing deaths in poultry, but also has the ability to enter the human body and damage the immune system completely, let us take a look at some of the signs and symptoms a human can experience after contracting the bird flu virus, or H5N1. These signs are --- diarrhoea, stomach pain, lower abdominal pain, chest pain, conjunctivitis, or pink eyes, bleeding from the nose and gums, flu-like upper respiratory symptoms such as chest congestion, difficulty breathing, etc.

How Does Bird Flu Spread To Humans?

Although rare, it is now becoming an upcoming threat that humans may also now catch the H5N1 virus and suffer the worst symptoms of the infection. How does it transmit? Humans can get bird flu by direct exposure to saliva, mucous, or feces from infected birds. It can enter through a person's eyes, nose, or mouth, or is inhaled. Also Read - H5N1 Bird Flu Spreading Like Fire: Will Bird Flu Be The Next Human Pandemic?

How To Contain The Spread?

It is very important to understand the various ways in which one can stay safe from catching an H5N1 virus infection. Some of these include -- wear proper hand gloves when handling poultry animals, and avoiding touching mouth, nose, or eyes after contact with birds or surfaces that may be contaminated with saliva, mucous, or feces from wild or domestic birds. Make sure to wash your hands with soap and water and touch birds. Also, change your clothes after contracting domestic poultry or after handling wild birds.