Bird Flu

[Aaron45765]

I was wondering how you actually contract bird flu. Do you contract it by mouth, skin contact, eye rubbing, etc. I was also wondering if ducks can get bird flu as well.

 

[RubberDuckee]

Avian flu can be contracted by simply touching an infected surface. The virus can remain active in a bird's saliva and/or feces for as long as 10 days. I am not certain, however I would assume that all avian species are susceptible to avian viruses.

Current information regarding avian flu is available at www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/outbreaks/current.htm.

 

[Aaron45765]

I heard there is no H5N1 in the USA. So is it presumed that my duck does not have H5N1? RubberDuckee, I did not know that! Next time I will be more careful around my ducks.

 

[RubberDuckee]

I am not certain. However, I think we would have heard if it had reached this continent. I wouldn't be worried... I think it is safe to assume your ducks, and mine, do not have it...

Unless your duck have flown to Asia recently... hehe

 

[SouthsideDucks]

I was wondering how you actually contract bird flu. Do you contract it by mouth, skin contact, eye rubbing, etc. I was also wondering if ducks can get bird flu as well.

Ducks can carry the avain flu virus but it is very rare that it affects them. That is one of the great things about ducks! Here is a excerpt: "Katharine Magor, a U of A associate professor of biology, has identified the genetic detector that allows ducks to live, unharmed, as the host of influenza. The duck's virus detector gene, called retinoic acid inducible gene -- I, or RIG-I, enables a duck's immune system to contain the virus, which typically spreads from ducks to chickens, where it mutates and can evolve to be a human threat like the H5N1 influenza virus." "Chickens have lost RIG-I somewhere in their evolutionary history, probably before their domestication in Asia more than 10,000 years ago."
Links:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100330151942.htm
http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/livestock/poultry/bba13s04.html

It seems that if you just have ducks, no chance of the flu spreading. If you have chickens and turkeys as well then they don't have this RIG gene and the ducks (if they have it) can pass it along to the chickens. f you come into contact with any of the following from an infected chicken or turkey, you may be at risk. You can contact it from:

• Infected domesticated birds, such as chickens, turkeys, or ducks.
• Cages and food or water containers used by infected birds.
• Dirt or bedding used by infected birds.
• The carcass of a bird that has died from influenza A virus.

Here is the link that is from:
http://www.wikihow.com/Recognize-Bird-Flu-Symptoms-(Avian-Influenza-Symptoms)

I don't know too much about avian flu but thought this was interesting and hopefully it was helpful to you -