| Those who have been following the news of the | | | | human being could suffer a fatality. Recently, |
| world have invariably heard of the recent bird flu | | | | there has been a significant increase in avian flu |
| panic. This very dangerous strain of the flu has | | | | infections in human beings in countries in Asia, |
| claimed quite a number of lives in the world and | | | | particularly Indonesia and Vietnam. In these |
| has literally terrified the populace of many | | | | countries, Vietnam in particular, there has bee a |
| countries. Despite the danger of this particular flu | | | | pronounced number of fatalities in human beings. |
| strain, many people truly do not know what the | | | | The reason that people contract bird flu is |
| bird flu actually is. | | | | because they are exposed to birds that are |
| Bird flu (avian influenza) is a virus that is found in | | | | infected with the virus. Contrary to popular belief, |
| the intestines of all different species of birds. | | | | the possibility of a human being getting infected |
| Avian flu is highly contagious and can be | | | | with the virus is rare, but when an outbreak does |
| transferred from bird to bird and can lead to an | | | | occur, it can spread and spread. This is basically |
| epidemic among these feathered creatures. While | | | | what has happened in the populated areas of |
| many times avian flu proves to be harmless to | | | | Southeast Asia that are experiencing a bird flu |
| birds, at other times it can prove fatal and lead to | | | | epidemic. |
| the deaths of many of these poor winged | | | | So, while rare, epidemics can break out and, sadly, |
| animals. In general, avian flu is not contagious or | | | | an outbreak of such an epidemic can prove fatal |
| dangerous to humans. However, the possibility of | | | | and the occurrences of the outbreak generally |
| infection in humans is a very real risk. When | | | | occur without warning. |
| infected with avian flu, it is highly possible that a | | | | |